Phantom Pain
What is it?
Phantom pain is a pain that is felt from an organ that is no longer there. In this case, pain from an amputated leg.
There is no complete agreement among experts as to what is the source of the pain. In the past it was thought to be a purely psychological phenomenon, but today the common belief is that the pain originates in the nerves of the spinal cord and the brain.
For most people these feelings slowly get weaker and weaker until they completely disappear, but for other it may never resolve completely.
Additional names
This group contains additional names:
- Phantom limb syndrome
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms of pain patterns defer between individuals. Your missing leg may feel painful, tingly, prickly, numb, hot or cold.
You may also feel like your missing toes are moving, like your missing limb is still there, or like it is getting shorter (telescoping).
Symptoms may be triggered or aggravated by fatigue, stress, infection, body position and many more.
Diagnosis
There is no diagnostic test for phantom pain. The doctor will make the diagnosis based on your medical history and current symptoms.
Treatment
Finding the exact treatment that will relieve your pain can be complicated and tiring.
Usually the initial treatment will be pharmacological, after which alternative treatment such as acupuncture can also be added.
Additional treatments for difficult-to-treat cases may include local injections and an implanted device.
☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.
Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.
Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:
.png)
Find people who are
experiencing a similar
medical reality
Free
Alike Wisdom
Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences
You might also like