Managing pain can be a complicated process. It differs from one person to another, making it all the more difficult for healthcare workers. If there is one condition that continues to puzzle doctors and researchers, it would be the phantom limb.
If your arm or leg has been amputated, there is a possibility that you can still feel pain even if your body part is no longer there. As the name implies, this particular pain is more commonly felt in the arms and legs, but can be felt for any removed body part, such as the breasts after a mastectomy.
Phantom limb pain is a case to case basis. In some patients, the pain can quickly resolve without the need for an intervention. For others, though, the pain can persist and become unbearable. When this happens, it is always best to work with a doctor and undergo a pain medication management session with clinics specializing in such conditions, such as Seattle Pain Relief.
One thing that sets phantom limb apart from other conditions is that its cause is unknown. For one, how can you feel pain on a body part that is no longer there? However, one plausible explanation for it would be the “rewiring” that the nerves in the spinal cord and brain undergo when they no longer receive signals from the missing limb. Since the arm or leg is nonexistent, the signal sent is that of a pain signal – the response sent when the body senses that something is not right. Another possible reason for phantom limb would be the presence of scar tissue and damaged nerve endings following limb removal.
The sensation of phantom limb pain can vary from one person to another and can be different, depending on the body part that is missing. For example, a stomach cramp would feel different from back pain. However, it is common to feel shooting and burning pain in the missing limb. Some individuals also report feeling pins and needles, crushing or twisting pain, and even a feeling of electric shock. It is also pretty common to feel movement, pressure, itch, vibration, and temperature from the missing limb.
While doctors are yet to identify a medication that would work to curb phantom limb pain, many have found success by using drugs indicated for epilepsy and depression.
In addition to these medications, doctors would also provide non-drug therapies, such as:
Phantom limb pain is something that you can quickly get over if you put your mind to it. Often a combination of any these therapies will work with relieving the pain. It would also help to change your lifestyle and put in more exercise into your routine.