The Management of Phantom Limb Following Amputation Surgery
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Amputation Injury Lawyer. For patients who are undergoing amputations, they are likely worried about the upcoming surgery. Once the surgery has been completed, they will likely need a significant amount of physical therapy. This could be inhibited by the development of something called a phantom limb, a potential complication that every patient should keep in mind.
What is Phantom Limb?
Whether the person in undergoing an ankle amputation, foot amputation, or other amputations, a phantom limb is a risk. This is the sensation that some patients describe as feeling something in the limb that is no longer present. For example, a patient may have a transhumeral amputation of the right arm yet still feel something as if the amputated portion of the right arm was in pain or the mind continues to sense the nonexistent limb. Importantly, a phantom limb is not just limited to limbs but could include other body parts as well, such as the removal of an eye, breast, or internal organ.
Symptoms Patients May Experience
Just as every patient is different, the signs and symptoms that patients may possibly develop can vary as well. Some patients could feel as though they are making a gesture with a limb that they no longer have. Other patients describe their feelings as an itch or a scratch that won’t go away. Patients have also reported that they feel like the limb is trying to grab an object. For some, the feelings could even be painful. Patients also report that their symptoms change with time. It is unclear why patients experiencing a phantom limb have changing symptoms. Examples of possible reasons include emotional stress, weather changes, anxiety or nervousness, and other life events. Patients usually experience these symptoms intermittently. The symptoms usually start to fade with time.
Treatment Options are Available
Patients who experience a phantom limb following below the knee amputations or otherwise have treatment options available. Every patient will respond to treatment differently. Examples of options include medical therapy with antidepressants and pain medications or procedural treatment. Possible procedures include vibration therapy, stimulation of the spinal cord, and biofeedback procedures. Some patients find nerve injections helpful.
Most of the media attention has been focused on the mirror box procedure. In this procedure, a patient uses a mirror in a box to show a reflection of a limb that is still intact. In the reflection, it will look like the limb that was lost in the procedure. When patients move the intact limb, it looks like the amputated limb is moving. This can help relieve some of the sensations in the phantom limb. The research surrounding this mirror box approach is limited. Patients should discuss treatment options individually with their healthcare provider.
Sacramento Amputation Injury Lawyer, Ed Smith
Sacramento Amputation Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Amputation Injury Lawyer. If you or a person you know has suffered a limb loss injury due to the negligence of another, please contact me for free and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. I help injured people recover compensation for their damages and other losses from the person or entity responsible for the incident.
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Image Source (bottom): Photograph of Sacramento Amputation Injury Attorney, Edward A Smith
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