Phantom limb syndrome is characterized by phantom sensations in the amputated limbs, these sensations can cause the person to feel that the missing part of the body is still present and functional (the brain continues to work with it), it can also experience pain, burns, itching, cramps and even paralysis of the affected area.
This syndrome can affect about 60% of people who have lost part of their body, limbs are the parts of the body that generate this phenomenon the most, but it can also be felt when an eye, tooth or breast is lost. those affected experience severe pain, making the lack of the rest of the body almost unbearable.
- The term “ghost limb syndrome” was coined by physician Silas Weir Mitchell in 1871.
- Who realized.
- In treating several American Civil War soldiers.
- That most amputees continued to feel the presence of limbs they no longer had.
- Let’s look at the symptoms.
- Possible causes and treatments for phantom limb syndrome.
The sensations that people with phantom limb syndrome can feel are very varied, many sensations depend on the situation in which the individual has lost part of his body, however, it can be said that the most common sensations are:
Pain is the most recurrent sensation in people with phantom limb syndrome; Also, if it is chronic, it is called phantom limb pain; this pain can be throbbing, persistent and the person may even feel the missing part of the body burning.
Phantom limb pain can get worse when the patient is stressed or very tired, it can also intensify by applying pressure to the stump or part of the body that still exists in the arms and legs, this can be caused by use. of an artificial limb that does not fit properly or is of poor quality.
The exact cause of phantom limb syndrome is unknown; Several hypotheses are being raised, for a long time it was thought that its origin was a combination of biological and psychological factors, in many cases it was considered a mental illusion resulting from post-traumatic stress after the loss of a part of the body. Now there are new theories that place the origin in various areas of the brain.
Currently, this syndrome is thought to be the result of a brain reorganization carried out after the loss of a part of the body. In other words, the brain has to rearrange nerve wires to adapt to new changes in the body.
This means that, for a while, the brain still has an area dedicated to the missing part of the body, as a result, amputees may feel as if the missing part is still there.
The time the brain readjusts to neurologically accept the absence of a part of the body depends on several factors, such as the level of nerve damage that connects the limb to the brain, as well as the physical memory of pain prior to amputation in case of infection or blood clots.
Most cases of phantom limb syndrome, especially those with pain, usually go away with the procedure; However, in the few cases of persistent pain of phantom limbs, treatment can be difficult.
For decades, countless treatments have been developed for this syndrome and associated chronic pain, from painkillers and antidepressants to nerve and brain stimulation.
Unfortunately, these treatments aren’t always effective: they relieve pain, but they don’t make it go away or slow it down over time.
In the 1990s visual feedback therapy was developed, with promising results, created by neurologist V. S. Ramachandran and consisting of using mirrors to create the illusion of the presence of the lost body part.
Does this generate visual feedback that allows the patient to adjust to the motor signals sent by the brain?In this way, with physical exercises in front of the mirror, the pain can immediately subside and even disappear completely after a few sessions.
Over the past decade, some technological advances have also been implemented to treat phantom limb syndrome. For example, virtual reality and augmented reality have produced promising results in pain reduction. The only drawback is that, if over the years they have become more accessible, the cost of these technologies remains high.
However, as indicated by a study by Colombian neurologists, none of these treatments have been completely effective, as only 10% of patients with phantom limb pain have improved in the long run.