Question 1

what is phantom limb?

Accepted Answer

See below: Phantom limb occurs when someone has an amputation of part of the limb and the person has persistent sensation like the amputated part is still there. This can also happen in people who have spinal cord injury and can no longer feel their extremities. With time, the phantom sensation begins to fade in most people. A small percentage have phantom pain which is much more difficult to treat.

Question 2

what causes phantom limb?

Accepted Answer

See below: Phantom limb syndrome is the term for when a person still feels the limb after amputation of that limb. It is thought to be a phenomenon that is generated in the brain by our "map" of that body part that has existed since birth. In most people this phantom fades away with time. In a small number of people, their will be pain in the phantom limb and this is a more difficult situation.

Question 3

what is a phantom limb like?

Accepted Answer

Unreal sensation: When a limb is lost by amputation, the nerves that used to go to the limb still remain as stubs in the stump.  They continue to send information to the brain as though they were still connected to the limb.  This causes a phantom sensation of feeling from the limb that is no longer there.  This is interpreted as pain or severe discomfort.  It is hard to treat and hard to understand.

Question 4

what is phantom limb syndrome?

Accepted Answer

It's not there: The brain develops a body MAP very early in life.  Nerves to an arm or leg are from a specific region of the brain.  If the arm or leg is lost, the nerves still act as though it were there, and the brain still acts as though it were there.  This produces a phantom limb sensation.

Question 5

what's it mean to have phantom limb?

Accepted Answer

Feeling a lost limb: The sensation of a limb that has been amputated.  Not to be confused with phantom pain, which is an often difficult to treat  painful sensation in an amputated limb.

Question 6

what predisposes someone to phantom limb?

Accepted Answer

Bad artery blockage: The most common reason for limb amputation is peripheral artery disease (pad). When an affected limb has so little circulation that it requires amputation the longer the time between having severe pain in the leg and amputation, the more likely phantom limb pain will develop. Amputations for infection or trauma have less incidence of phantom pain but it can happen.

Question 7

what are typical symptoms of phantom limb?

Accepted Answer

See below: Phantom limb syndrome is the term for when a person still feels the limb after amputation of that limb. It is thought to be a phenomenon that is generated in the brain by our "map" of that body part that has existed since birth. In most people this phantom fades away with time. In a small number of people, their will be pain in the phantom limb and this is a more difficult situation.

Question 8

what are the symptoms involved with a phantom limb?

Accepted Answer

Sensation: Phantom limb symptoms are that the limb is still there even after an amputation.  Phantom pain is pain in the limb even if it is not there.

Question 9

any solution for missing limb- phantom limb sensation?

Accepted Answer

Gabapentin: Phantom limb pain has been a mystery for decades.  It derives from the brain centers that expect input from nerves from a limb that no longer exists.  This type of neuritic pain will sometimes respond to Gabapentin or perhaps tricyclics.

Question 10

how is phantom limb pain evaluated. treated?

Accepted Answer

See below: There are no blood tests or xrays mris etc that need to be done. The diagnosis is established by the person's history and physical examination. The treatment includes various desensitization techniques such as tapping the limb, massage, using a prosthesis as well as various medications designed to dampen overactive nerves.

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Phantom limb signs

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What is phantom limb?

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What is phantom limb syndrome?

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What predisposes someone to phantom limb?

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