special subjects
Residual Limb Pain
Phantom pain
Most people experience pain that feels as though it were occurring in the amputated limb (phantom pain) at some time. The phantom aspect is not the pain, which is real, but thelocationof the pain—in a limb that has been amputated. Phantom pain usually begins within days following amputation but could be delayed months to years. Phantom pain may feel like tingling, shooting, stabbing, throbbing, burning, aching, pinching, clamping, and vise-like squeezing pain. Phantom pain is often worse soon after the amputation, then decreases over time. For many people, phantom pain is more common when the prosthesis is not being worn, for example, at night. The risk of having this pain is reduced if both a spinal anesthetic and a general anesthetic are used during surgery. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), Acupuncture , and spinal cord stimulation may relieve the pain. 