Phantom limb syndrome is a condition when there is ongoing pain, itching, tingling, or numbness in the amputated body part. Phantom limb syndrome is estimated to occur in 60–80% of people who have had an amputation.
After undergoing an amputation of a leg or hand, a person may still be able to feel pain in the missing body part. The duration of pain in each person is different, it can be several hours, days, or months. In fact, some have experienced this complaint for years.
Causes of Phantom Limb Syndrome
Until now, the cause of phantom limb syndrome is still not clearly known. However, this condition is thought to occur due to the formation of persistent pain stimuli in the amputated body part due to damage to the nerves in that part.
In addition to the emergence of persistent pain stimuli, phantom limb syndrome is also thought to occur due to changes in the nerves and brain that regulate and receive pain stimuli after the body is amputated.
Sometimes, pain or other sensations that appear in phantom limb syndrome can be felt more severe due to several factors, namely:
- Touch on the amputated body part
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Smoking habit
- Changes in air temperature, for example the air temperature becomes cold or hot
- Lack of smooth blood flow to the amputated body part
- Excessive swelling or pressure on the amputated body part
- Infections, eg herpes zoster
How to Overcome Phantom Limb Syndrome
In some people, the pain from phantom limb syndrome may decrease or subside on its own over time after the amputation. However, if the pain does not go away or it gets worse, then this condition should be checked by a doctor.
To overcome phantom limb syndrome, doctors can seek the following treatment steps:
1. Administration of drugs
Actually there is no specific treatment that can cure phantom limb syndrome. However, doctors can give medicines to relieve pain so that patients feel more comfortable and can return to their activities.
Treatments that doctors can give to treat phantom limb syndrome include NSAIDs or opioids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and local anesthetics.
2. Mirror therapy
Mirror therapy is done by placing or facing a mirror to a healthy limb, then the doctor or physiotherapist will ask the patient to move both limbs (both normal and amputated).
Some people with phantom limb syndrome experience improvement in their symptoms after undergoing mirror therapy. However, the effectiveness and benefits of mirror therapy as a treatment for post-amputation pain complaints is still being studied further.
3. Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy in phantom limb syndrome patients is carried out to prevent stiffness in the amputated joint, increase blood circulation, and prevent muscle tissue shrinkage (muscle atrophy).
When undergoing physiotherapy, doctors will also usually help patients to return to their activities and work through occupational therapy.
4. Nerve stimulation therapy
This therapy works by sending electrical signals and stimulating the affected nerves in the part of the body that has been amputated, so that it can inhibit or reduce pain.
In addition, nerve stimulation therapy can also be performed on the spinal cord or in the brain to reduce pain due to phantom limb syndrome.
5. Psychotherapy
One of the factors that make phantom limb syndrome difficult to improve is stress and depression. For this reason, patients who experience phantom limb syndrome after amputation are advised to undergo psychotherapy and counseling.
Through psychotherapy, patients will be trained to deal with stress and distract by doing certain activities, such as reading, listening or playing music, and painting, to relieve the complaints that arise.
After undergoing an amputation, it is important to get monitoring and undergo a series of treatments from a doctor so that your condition can improve.
If the complaint of phantom limb syndrome does not go away within a few months after you undergo an amputation, this complaint should be examined by a neurologist so that it can be treated appropriately.
