Phantom Limb Research Paper

Several years ago, my stepbrother, Travis, lost the tips of two fingers on his right hand in a work accident. The first time he tried to shoot a gun after the accident, he did not realize his fingers did not even reach the trigger. That is just one example of phantom limb. Most people with phantom limb have what is called phantom limb pain. Phantom limb pain refers to ongoing painful sensations that seem to be coming from a part of the limb that is no longer there (“Managing Phantom Pain,” 2016). Even though the limb is gone, the pain is real. Phantom limb pain has different causes, different symptoms and different treatments. The exact cause of phantom limb pain is unclear. Doctors once believed this post-amputation phenomenon
Imaging scans like an MRI or a PET, show parts of the brain that were neurologically connected to the nerves of the amputated limb having activity when the person feels phantom pain (Staff, B. M., n.d.). There have also been studies that show the brain may remap the amputated limb's sensory circuitry to another part of the body (Staff, B. M., n.d.). So, because the amputated area is no longer able to receive sensory information, the information is referred elsewhere. For example, from a missing hand to a still-present cheek, when the cheek is touched, it is like the missing hand also is being touched. The result is pain because of tangled sensory
It is often felt in fingers or toes. It can feel like a variety of things, such as burning, twisting, itching or pressure. Some people experience other sensations such as tingling, cramping, heat, and cold in the portion of the limb that was removed. Also, any sensation that the limb could have experienced prior to the amputation may be experienced in the amputated phantom limb. There are several other characteristics of phantom limb pain. It usually starts within the first few days of an amputation. This pain can come and go or be continuous. It often affects the part of the limb farthest from the body, such as the foot of an amputated leg. Some say it feels as if the phantom part is forced into an uncomfortable position. It is also thought that the pain may be triggered by emotional stress or pressure on the remaining part of the limb. Successful treatment of phantom limb pain is difficult. It is different from the treatment you would receive for other kinds of pain and is usually based on the person's level of pain. Treating phantom limb pain effectively takes a multipronged approach, meaning both medication and non-medication treatments are used. The medication therapies are used to change or interrupt the signals from the brain or spinal