A majority of amputees have to live with phantom pain, sometimes even decades after the operation. There are several means of treatment but recovery is never guaranteed.
Phantom sensations make the amputated limb seem still present . It can be a sensation of the toe touching the sheets of the bed or the feeling of the position of the arm. As for phantom pain, these are often related to a burning sensation (or twinge) in the missing limb. It can also be electrical pain or cramps.
According to the MyHandicap Foundation, nearly 7 out of 10 amputees have to live with these pains. However, it is impossible to touch, scratch or massage the member since it is simply absent. You should know that the pain appears in the region of the brain concerned, namely the area of the brain where the limb is represented . Indeed, this is not surprising insofar as the body perceives itself as complete.
Phantom pain specialists advise people with not to wait too long before seeking treatment. The objective is to prevent a memory of pain from setting in. However, there is no guarantee that the various treatments will make these same pains disappear.
The taking of a central analgesic seems to be the most effective method. It's about suppressing pain in the brain. In addition, neuroleptics can also have their effect. Thus, the pain may be persistent but will not bother. Other methods exist, such as electrodes implanted in the brain or in the spinal cord. Again, this is a way to relieve brain pain. There is also transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), massage therapy and biofeedback.
There is a rather special therapy called "mirror therapy". Employed since the early 2000s in countries like Germany, this is an active therapy. In other words, the patient does not depend on the therapist.
It's about placing a mirror between the intact limb and the amputated limb. Thus, the patient will have the impression, looking in the mirror, of moving the phantom limb . However, this can lead to pain relief. However, the effectiveness of this technique has not yet been really demonstrated by means of scientific evidence.
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