Phantom Pain
Phantom pain refers to neuropathic pain that feels like it originates from a body part that has previously been removed. Phantom limb pain is felt in the area where a limb, such as a leg, foot, arm, or hand, was amputated. Pain after amputation can be mild to extremely painful and it can lead to a lifelong struggle with chronic pain. While most amputees report that it feels like their limb is still there — a painless phenomenon known as phantom limb sensation — others experience mild-to-severe pain long after their procedure. Approximately 80 percent of amputees experience phantom pain. Characteristics of phantom pain include the following.
- Pain during the first week after amputation or delayed onset.
- Pain that comes and goes or is continuous.
- Pain described as cramping, burning, tingling, shooting, stabbing, crushing, or throbbing.
- Symptoms affecting the part of the limb farthest from the body, such as the hand of an amputated arm.
What Causes Phantom Limb Pain?
The exact cause of phantom limb pain is unclear, but it appears to occur as a result of mixed signals between the brain and the spinal cord. Although the limb is no longer attached to the body, the nerve endings at the amputation site persist to send pain signals to the brain, signaling that the limb is still there. Those with persistent pain in the remaining limb — residual limb pain — usually experience phantom pain too. Some patients find that certain activities or conditions trigger phantom pain, including the following.
- Exposure to cold temperatures
- Smoking
- Touch
- Sexual intercourse
- Changes in barometric pressure
- Angina
- Herpes zoster