
After an amputation, it takes some time for your body and your mind to adjust. Many patients report both residual limb pain and “phantom” pain in the limb they’ve lost. Though we can’t explain exactly how phantom limb syndrome works, it’s thought to involve mixed or interrupted signals between the brain and the nerves in the affected limb.
Phantom limb syndrome affects 60% to 80% of amputees, often causing severe pain and discomfort. Fortunately, there are some rehabilitative therapies and treatments that can help improve symptoms while you heal.
This article outlines what phantom limb syndrome is, what it feels like and what solutions can help.
What’s phantom limb syndrome?
Phantom limb syndrome involves pain and sensations in an affected limb after amputation. With phantom limb syndrome, you may feel like your limb is still there. You may feel pain or sensations that feel like movement, prickling, tingling, numbness or temperature changes.
Phantom limb syndrome is common, though we don’t understand much about why it happens. Researchers believe it has something to do with signals between the brain and the nerves connected to a missing limb. In most cases, as your brain gets used to your limb not being there, pain and sensations will subside.
There are some therapies and treatments that can provide relief from phantom limb syndrome. Occupational therapy can effectively reduce pain from phantom limb syndrome in many cases. In mirror therapy, for example, patients sit next to a mirror that’s positioned to reflect the remaining limb. A therapist guides you through some exercises so your brain can start to process signals that are getting mixed up and causing pain.
How does phantom limb syndrome affect people?
Most people who have phantom limb syndrome notice it most in the first six months after amputation. However, some still notice symptoms for up to two years. You may notice phantom limb pain more if you’re feeling stressed, tired, anxious or depressed. An infection, blood flow issues, and pressure or swelling can all aggravate phantom limb pain. If you wear a prosthetic, you may notice more phantom limb pain when you’re not using it.
You can feel residual limb pain at the same time as phantom limb pain. This is pain in the remaining part of your limb. These types of pain can interfere with your sleep, which affects your overall wellness. If phantom limb pain is affecting your daily activities, talk with your doctor about some solutions that might help.
Symptoms of phantom limb syndrome can include:
- Aching, stabbing, burning or throbbing pain
- Sensations of itching, tingling, twisting or pinching
- Temperature change
- Feeling as though your limb is still there
- Feeling as though your limb is moving, shrinking or in an unusual position
How can I get relief from phantom limb syndrome?
Taking care of your physical and mental health is especially important while you’re recovering from an amputation. Your doctor can help you explore treatment options that have proven effective for phantom limb pain. In the short term, these might include medications, mirror therapy, physical or occupational therapy and psychotherapy. There are also some types of nerve stimulation treatments that can help your brain organize signals traveling to and from your missing limb.
A few types of therapy can trick your brain into believing your limb is still there, which provides relief for many amputees. As mentioned earlier, mirror therapy is one method, which involves doing exercises with a mirror positioned to reflect your remaining limb. Wearing a prosthetic can have a similar effect. Depending on your amputation, physical therapy or occupational therapy may be able to help you reduce pain in your remaining limb and prevent falls. At Ability KC, we also help patients learn to use prosthetics and assistive technology, as well as mobility aids and adaptive clothing.
We offer the following therapies and treatments for phantom limb syndrome:
- Mirror therapy
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Meditation or mindfulness exercises
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
Explore rehabilitation and therapy for phantom limb syndrome at Ability KC
Improving symptoms from phantom limb syndrome is only one of the recovery goals you can work on with your integrated care team at Ability KC. Our comprehensive day rehabilitation program includes multiple types of therapy to promote physical and emotional recovery while adapting to your new lifestyle. As you become more independent, you can continue with outpatient rehabilitation and other specialty programs. Your rehabilitation community at Ability KC will always be here for you if you should need assistance in the future.
You can trust Ability KC because we’ve helped others regain independence after an amputation, like Nate. He survived a motorcycle accident in December 2015 that left him with a traumatic brain injury and a leg amputation, among other injuries. In only 5 1/2 months, Nate began walking with a prosthetic and started regaining his vision.
We also keep up with certifications and accreditations on every level, from hyperlocal to international. We’re a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) with a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation.
Have questions about rehabilitation? Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.