Introduction to Phantom Limb Pain with Dr. Eldor Brish

According to the latest statistics, the population of amputees in the United States exceeds two million people and disproportionately affects the veteran community. Given the current growth rates, that number is expected to further increase to 3.6 million by 2050. These numbers showcase a pattern which could soon imply that one in every ten people is an amputee.

many of these individuals suffer from something known as "phantom limb" pain. It is a chronic, neurological case of pain that arises after one's limb is severed. Thus, what are some of the causes, symptoms, and treatments for phantom-like pain arising in a body part which is no longer there?

Causes

As mentioned, the exact reason why someone experiences phantom limb pain remains partially unclear.. Nevertheless, scientists have concluded that the nerves in the brain which used to connect to the missing body may play a role in this aberrant nervous system activity. In translation, if someone is feeling pain in a severed leg, the nerves which used to connect to that leg could indeed still be active.

As medical experts continue to search for an answer to this problem, the way it is currently explained remains vague. One possible explanation is the fact that nerves may rewire in unpredictable ways following a traumatic injury.

Symptoms

According to an experienced pain management physician in this field and a graduate of Johns Hopkins Medical School, Dr. Eldor Brish, phantom pain may arise not long after surgery or traumatic amputation. Meaning, it may take no more than a few days for the discomfort or abnormal phantom sensations to begin.

Next, according to Dr. Eldor Brish, patients who experience this condition often denote the pain as one of the following:

● Stabbing;

● Throbbing;

● Burning;

● Shooting.

This means that the appearance of phantom limb pain will usually be characterized by its sharpness. Also, it is not uncommon for people to relate the pain to the distal portion of their limb. For example, consider someone who received an amputation of their leg. If they experience this condition, it may show up as discomfort in the foot of the leg that was removed.

Lastly, a patient could further feel as if the limb is placed in an uncomfortable position. Meaning, the sensation one gets after their leg falls asleep, per se, could also present itself in the leg that is missing.

Treatments

As with every concerning medical issue, it is crucial that the patient visits their doctor. Doing so enables them to get a quick start on the battle against the condition and minimize it from becoming a chronic problem. Luckily, there is a silver lining when it comes to the high number of amputees in the nation. It is the fact that there is an abundance of amputation experts and clinics all over the country.

For example, living in an area without access to appropriate medical care may prove challenging for patients suffering from phantom limb pain. Fortunately, there has been ongoing medical advancement both in the understanding and treatment of phantom limb pain As such, access to appropriate medical practitioners has vastly improved over the past several years for suffers of this syndrome.

As far as some tangible treatment methods, conservative modalities are usually the first step. After the patient meets with their doctor, they will come up with a balanced group of treatment options. These may include medications that target neuropathic pain including adjuvant analgesics. Unfortunately, sometimes the patient may need to go through a trial and error period before their medications are balanced properly to meet their need.

As above, phantom limb pain can be treated with non-medication options including:

● Acupuncture;

● Massage;

● Imagery;

● Mirror Box;

● Virtual Reality.

Arguably, mirror box therapy, which was made popular by a TV show House M.D., is one of the most famous approaches. Nevertheless, all of the aforementioned could help minimize the discomfort and improve the patient's quality of life.