After an amputation, many people may continue to feel the limb that is no longer there. These sensations, which appear as feeling the presence of a missing arm, leg or fingers, tingling, itching or pain, are called "phantom limb sensation" or "phantom limb pain" and are a common occurrence after amputation.
Why Does It Occur?
Parts of our body have sensory and motor counterparts in the brain, and signals coming from the limbs are processed in these areas. When a limb is lost, the brain tries to readjust to the changed signal pattern. This relearning process can take time; during it, temporary disruptions in signal processing may occur and phantom limb sensation may arise.
The severity and duration of symptoms vary from person to person. This condition, which can affect activities of daily living and quality of life, can generally be reduced with an appropriate rehabilitation program.
Approaches That Can Be Used in Rehabilitation
The following practices are carried out by a physiotherapist in line with the specialist physician's assessment and medical report:
- Mirror therapy exercises: Exercises performed with the unaffected side positioned in front of a mirror are observed through the mirror reflection; this may help the brain reorganize its perception of the limb.
- Prosthesis use: Correct use of a suitable prosthesis may help reduce phantom limb sensation through the visual perception of the artificial limb.
- Sensory (desensitization) work: Practices aimed at reducing sensitivity in cases of excessive or confused sensory perception may be applied.
- Electrical stimulation (TENS): It may be applied to help reduce pain perception by creating sensory input; detailed information is also available on electrical stimulation methods that work on similar principles.
Whether these approaches are suitable for the person and how often they will be applied is determined according to the physician's assessment.
This content is for informational purposes; you should consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.
