Phantom Pain and Limbs
The loss of an arm or leg through amputation is not an easy experience to endure, and is even more difficult when the patient begins to feel uncomfortable sensations in their now missing limb. This feeling, referred to as "phantom pain" or "stump hallucination", is a frustrating sensation to an amputee.
For some amputees, these phantom sensations may be no more than painless distractions of pressure, warmth, and cold that do not interfere with their everyday lives. Some patients have even reported having phantom pleasures; an "orgasmic" feeling in a missing limb. For the majority of amputees, about 50% to 80% (Sherman), they experience phantom pains that vary in classification from cramping, burning, tingling, shocking, shooting and stabbing pains. These episodes are severe enough to interfere with work, sleep and normal function, and do require some kind of treatment. Phantom pain can occur anytime, from immediately after an amputation to several years later.
The powerful impression of a stable, intact self is taken for granted. But, it 's a perception that 's possible only because of the body image created by the brain. A significant part of that image is a mental map of the body surface generated by the cerebral cortex using the sensory signals it receives from the skin. Other regions of the cortex control other components, such as the position of muscles and joints, the intention to move, and also the visual viewing of the body 's movements (New Scientist). Unfortunately, the brain 's idea of its body can be distorted by the amputation of a limb. Since there is no visual feedback, initiating motor intention does not activate proprioreceptors (Harris). Over time, phantom limbs can be felt by the amputee to be overflexed, which causes a cramping pain. Based on this information, one of the most common questions is "if the inconsistency between the intention of the brain and the perception of the body 's actions was to be resolved, could the phantom pain also
For some amputees, these phantom sensations may be no more than painless distractions of pressure, warmth, and cold that do not interfere with their everyday lives. Some patients have even reported having phantom pleasures; an "orgasmic" feeling in a missing limb. For the majority of amputees, about 50% to 80% (Sherman), they experience phantom pains that vary in classification from cramping, burning, tingling, shocking, shooting and stabbing pains. These episodes are severe enough to interfere with work, sleep and normal function, and do require some kind of treatment. Phantom pain can occur anytime, from immediately after an amputation to several years later.
The powerful impression of a stable, intact self is taken for granted. But, it 's a perception that 's possible only because of the body image created by the brain. A significant part of that image is a mental map of the body surface generated by the cerebral cortex using the sensory signals it receives from the skin. Other regions of the cortex control other components, such as the position of muscles and joints, the intention to move, and also the visual viewing of the body 's movements (New Scientist). Unfortunately, the brain 's idea of its body can be distorted by the amputation of a limb. Since there is no visual feedback, initiating motor intention does not activate proprioreceptors (Harris). Over time, phantom limbs can be felt by the amputee to be overflexed, which causes a cramping pain. Based on this information, one of the most common questions is "if the inconsistency between the intention of the brain and the perception of the body 's actions was to be resolved, could the phantom pain also
Cited: (1998). Phantom limbs : Research indicates people born without a limb experience phenomenon of phantom limbs-brief article. Discover, Retrieved November 1, 2006, from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_n2_v19/ai_20159526 (2002). New Scientist. Retrieved November 3, 2006, from They do it with mirrors Web site: http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/jmason_main?http_rc=400&class=session&sev=temp&type=session&cause=http%3A%2F%2Fweb1.infotrac.galegroup.com%2Fitw%2Finfomark%2F805%2F448%2F25790840w3%2Fpurl%3Drc1_EAIM_0_A63676311%26dyn%3D4!ar_fmt%3Fsw_aep%3Djmason_main&cont=&msg (2003). Macalester Psychology. Retrieved November 3, 2006, from Phantom Page Web site: http://www.macalester.edu/%7Epsych/whathap/UBNRP/Phantom/Homepage.html (2004). Journal of Neurology. Retrieved November 3, 2006, from Phantom Limb Pain Web site: http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/jmason_main?http_rc=400&class=session&sev=temp&type=session&cause=http%2G%1B%1Aweb1.infotrac.galegroup.com%1Hygt%6Finfomark%5V672%1R5997%1C5567kY87%2Fpurl%3Drc1_EAIM_0_A77822655%98dyn%3r4!ar_fmt%2Fsw_aep%2Fjmason_main&cont=&msg Harris, J. A. "Cortical Origin of Pathological Pain." in Lancet, vol. 354 (pg. 1464-1466) 2002 Ramachandran, V.S., & Rogers-Ramachandran, D. (2000). Phantom Limbs and Neural Plasticity. Sherman, Richard (1997). Electromyography: Applications in chronic pain, physical pain, and rehabilitation. Retrieved November 3, 2006, from Phantom Limb Pain Web site: http://www.bfe.org/protocol/pro05eng.htm