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Overview

Name: Phantom Limb Pain

Description:

This casebook is published and has been read 98 times.

Notes

After a limb is amputated, a patient may feel as if the limb is still there. This is called phantom sensation. It may feel:

    Tingly
    Prickly
    Numb
    Hot or cold
    Like the missing toes or fingers are moving
    Like the missing limb is still there, or is in a funny position
    Like the missing limb is getting shorter. This is called telescoping.




These sensations slowly get weaker and weaker. You should also feel them less often. They may not ever go away completely.

Pain in the missing part of the arm or leg is called phantom pain. It may feel like:

    Sharp or shooting pain
    Achy pain
    Burning pain
    Cramping pain

Phantom limb pain will lessen over time for most people.

Some things may make phantom pain worse:

    Being too tired
    Putting too much pressure on the part of the arm or leg that is still there
    Changes in the weather
    Stress
    Infection
    An artificial limb that does not fit properly
    Poor blood flow
    Swelling in the part of the arm or leg that is still there

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