After an amputation, it is common for people to feel pain and other sensations in the stump of their limb. These feelings are known as phantom pains. They can be intense and last for months or years, but they will eventually fade away with time.
Phantom limb pain can occur anywhere in your body, but it is most often experienced in parts of your body that were affected by the amputation. This can include the stump, fingers, toes or other parts of your limb. It may be described as intermittent burning, stabbing, prickling or shooting pain that comes and goes throughout the day.
It can also be triggered by changes in barometric pressure, stress or other things that have to do with your body or your lifestyle. If you notice any of these triggers, let your doctor know so that the right treatment can be prescribed.
Physical Therapy:
A physical therapist is a movement expert who can help with phantom limb pain through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement exercises. He or she may also use TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) devices to interrupt pain signals that are sent from your stump before they reach your brain.
Drugs:
Some medications, such as narcotics and opioids, can relieve phantom limb pain in some people. However, some of these drugs can cause addiction and withdrawal symptoms if taken in high doses or for extended periods of time. If you are taking these medicines, tell your doctor if you have a history of substance abuse.
Nerve Stimulation:
Some people find relief from phantom limb pain by using TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machines or sticky patches. These devices send a weak electrical current via the skin and interrupt pain signals before they reach your brain.
Putting a warm or cold pack on your stump can also help with phantom limb pain, and it can reduce the number of times you feel a phantom limb pain. A physical therapist can help you determine which treatment options work best for you.
Other types of treatments for phantom limb pain include cognitive therapies such as hypnosis or guided imagery. These approaches can change the way your brain interprets phantom limb pain and other sensations that are not caused by an amputation.
Talking to others:
Many amputees have found that talking to people who have been through amputation and coping with the same symptoms can be helpful in dealing with phantom pain. There are also support groups and online communities that provide emotional support for people with phantom pain.
Tender points:
Your healthcare provider can also make an appointment for you to have your stump rubbed. This is a gentle way to desensitize your stump and help reduce phantom limb pain.
Getting up and moving around:
A physical therapist can help you get up and move around more easily with phantom limb pain, as well as other problems related to your amputation. This will help you feel better and improve your quality of life.
