Phantom Limb Pain

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The first theory that seeks to explain phantom limb pain is the peripheral mechanism theory in which it is believed that the sensations that are experienced by the amputee are the direct result of the nerves that have severed (Subedi, & Grossberg, 2011). Essentially, the peripheral mechanism theory hypothesizes that the reason that many amputees experience phantom limb pain is because the nerves in the affected area are still firing, even though the limb has been removed. When a nerve is severed, neuromas or nerve tumors are created, these neuromas still generate activity and sometime cause a hype-excitability or spontaneous discharge of the nerves causing the sensation of pain (Subedi, & Grossberg, 2011; Nikolajsen, & Jensen, 2001). The…show more content…
The psychological and physiological symptoms of phantom limb pain vary from amputee to amputee. Some amputees will never experience any psychological or physiological symptoms, while some will experience either psychological or physiological symptoms, and some will experience both psychological and physiological symptoms. Some of the most common psychological symptoms that an amputee can experience are increased stress, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem and low self-worth (Subedi, & Grossberg, 2011; Nikolajsen, & Jensen, 2001). Some of the most common physiological symptoms that an amputee can experience are tingling, shooting, stabbing, throbbing, piercing, numbness, pins and needles, which results in what is perceived as pain in the missing limb (Subedi, & Grossberg, 2011; Goldstein, 2010). Some amputees also experience the general feeling that the limb is still present resulting in an amputee placing weight on the missing limb potentially causing physical…show more content…
In mirror therapy the amputee observes their undamaged limb moving as they move their phantom limb in unison (Black, Persons, & Jamieson, 2009). It is hypothesized that mirror therapy is effective because it helps to correct the way that the amputee’s brain perceives their missing limb (Black, Persons, & Jamieson, 2009). Essentially, mirror therapy tricks the brain of the amputee into seeing the missing limb as the healthy limb, in hopes to eliminate the sensations of pain. Just as mirror therapy has shown great promise, researchers are hopeful that virtual reality therapy will show great promise as well because it works on the same manner as mirror therapy (Black, Persons, & Jamieson,
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