Most everyone with a missing external body part feels sensations from that missing part. Sometimes it's strong and painful, sometimes it's just annoying and sometimes we are barely aware of it.
The job of nerves is to send messages about sensations back to the brain. When a limb is removed the nerves still want to send messages but the system has been interrupted. Pressure against the nerves helps. It also helps if the nerves are well padded with muscle coverage or if a well fitting prosthesis can be worn.
Unfortunately, the type of injury or lack of blood supply to the area can minimize the ability to have good muscle coverage. Before the wound heals the nerves are exposed more and this results in more phantom feelings. Things that can help are an immediate fit cast over the wound and gentle pressure from an elastic sock.
Medication has not provided good relief for most people. Besides they have concerning side effects and shouldn't be taken for the rest of our lives. This includes medicating with alcohol or marijuana.
The non medical interventions this nurse clinician recommends are:
Distraction - Try and focus on something else. Can make a huge difference.
Pressure - put on good fitting prosthesis, weightbearing if possible, elastic shrinker sock or wrap, gentle massage
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing has had some good results in many areas, including Post Traumatic Stress and now with phantom limb discomfort. Be sure and seek out a professional who is an 'approved consultant' through www.emdria.org/ This is a type of psychotherapy that helps reprocess information in the brain. This is not to imply that phantom limb sensation is 'all in our head' - because it is not.
Even with interventions there are things like fatigue, illness, and wound problems that will typically stir up phantom feelings. Such are the many nuisances of limb loss.
The job of nerves is to send messages about sensations back to the brain. When a limb is removed the nerves still want to send messages but the system has been interrupted. Pressure against the nerves helps. It also helps if the nerves are well padded with muscle coverage or if a well fitting prosthesis can be worn.
Unfortunately, the type of injury or lack of blood supply to the area can minimize the ability to have good muscle coverage. Before the wound heals the nerves are exposed more and this results in more phantom feelings. Things that can help are an immediate fit cast over the wound and gentle pressure from an elastic sock.
Medication has not provided good relief for most people. Besides they have concerning side effects and shouldn't be taken for the rest of our lives. This includes medicating with alcohol or marijuana.
The non medical interventions this nurse clinician recommends are:
Distraction - Try and focus on something else. Can make a huge difference.
Pressure - put on good fitting prosthesis, weightbearing if possible, elastic shrinker sock or wrap, gentle massage
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing has had some good results in many areas, including Post Traumatic Stress and now with phantom limb discomfort. Be sure and seek out a professional who is an 'approved consultant' through www.emdria.org/ This is a type of psychotherapy that helps reprocess information in the brain. This is not to imply that phantom limb sensation is 'all in our head' - because it is not.
Even with interventions there are things like fatigue, illness, and wound problems that will typically stir up phantom feelings. Such are the many nuisances of limb loss.