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The Amputee Resource Center
This site was developed with the you in mind, as a place to find those hard to find resources that you need.
| Amputation: Phantom Pain |
Phantom sensation is usually experienced by most amputees at one time or another.
Some of us are blessed with very little exposure to the "unpleasantries" of phantom
sensation, some experience severe pain on a daily basis.
Phantom sensation is not just the feeling of having a limb when no limb is present
(which usually goes away). It is a term used for any sensation or pain originating
from a residual (stump) limb.
Phantom sensation can range from tingling sensations to severe sharp, stabbing pain
that can only be controlled via professional pain management.
 Phantom Pain Relief Without Medication
NOTE: These methods don't always work, of course, and what works for one person may
not work for another. Remember, check with your doctor if you have any questions before trying these methods.
- Wrap your stump in a warm, soft fabric, such as a towel. The warmth will
sometimes increase circulation. Poor circulation is thought to be one cause of
phantom pain.
- Mentally exercise the limb that is not there in the area that is painful.
- Mentally relax the missing limb and your stump.
- Do some mild overall exercise to increase circulation.
- Exercise the stump.
- Tighten the muscles in the stump, then release them slowly.
- Put ace wrap or shrinker sock on. If you have your prosthesis, put it on
and take a short walk.
- If you have pain with the prosthesis on, take it and the prosthetic sock off
and put it back on after a few minutes. Sometimes the stump is being pinched
and changing the way it is on will relieve the pressure on that nerve.
- Change positions. If you are sitting, move around in your chair, or stand up
to let the blood get down into your stump.
- Soak in a warm bath or use a shower message or whirlpool on your
stump. A hot tub is reported to do wonders.
- Massage your stump with your hands or better yet have someone else
message it while you try to relax your entire body.
- Keep a diary of when pain is most severe. This can help you and your
doctor identify recurring causes.
- Wrap stump in a heating pad.
Some people have found help through self-hypnosis, biofeedback and chiropractic.
If you have not found relief through any home remedies and the pain is not being
controlled through normal medication, a pain center should be considered.
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