amputation pain

Phantom pain is the sensation of pain in a part of the body that no longer exists, which often occurs after the loss of a body part, usually in the course of an amputation. Phantom pain usually occurs after the removal of parts of the extremities, but in principle it can occur anywhere where an … Phantom Pain

Diagnosis When pain occurs after amputation, it is very important to take a detailed medical history and describe the patient’s pain exactly. A distinction must be made between phantom pain and residual limb pain, i.e. pain on the remaining residual limb of the removed body part. These can be caused by inflammation, bruising, nerve injury … Diagnosis | Phantom Pain

Therapy To date, there is no uniform therapy for phantom pain. Since it has been shown that patients with adequate prosthesis fitting had the least brain reorganisation and were least affected by phantom pain, those affected should receive a prosthesis as far as possible. In most cases, drug treatment is attempted first. Since phantom pain … Therapy | Phantom Pain

Prophylaxis A key factor in the development of phantom pain is the severity and duration of the pain before removal of the body part. Therefore, optimal pain management before amputation is the central approach to prevent phantom pain. This is the only way to prevent the formation of a pain memory. Consistent pain therapy should … Prophylaxis | Phantom Pain