A large number of individuals feel some sort of discomfort after going through an operation. It is part of the recovery procedure and usually settles as tissues mend on their own. But it is not that straightforward if you are reviving from an amputation.
As per a pain management doctor, you might feel many sensations following the initial post-surgical discomfort lowers. Medical professionals can assist those undergoing amputation to control these sensations before time to restrict long-term issues with post-amputation discomfort.
Phantom Limb Pain: How Does It Happen?
Nearly 50 to 80 percent of amputation patients say that they’ve experienced phantom limb pain during the recovery stage. Some feel a sensation that is described as pins and needles, while others feel a shooting or burning pain.
The major cause for phantom pain in Chicago is yet to be discovered. Earlier, it was believed to be a type of mental pain. The logic behind this belief is that the sorrow brought about by the loss of a body part, and the constant wish that it was still there leads to phantom pain.
Researchers and medical professionals now believe that this type of pain is brought about by nerves in the spine and brain. These nerves connect to the limbs of the body. As a limb is cut off, the spine and brain stop getting input from the nerves in that limb.
Also, read – What are the Signs & Causes of Phantom Pain?
The Right Ways to Handle Your Post-Amputation Pain
- Local injection therapy
The medical practitioner injects a local pain injection at the location of the amputated limb. It can ease the painful signals transmitted by the nerve endings to the mind.
- Deep brain stimulation
The surgeon puts minute electrodes directly on the brain surface to aid in calming discomfort with electrical impulses.
- Non-opiate analgesic
These are prescribed medicines that can be taken to slow or restrict how the painful nerves transmit signals to the brain.
- Mirror box therapy
Mirror box therapy for phantom pain – does it work? The patient, in reality, sees in a mirror when getting physical therapy to re-map the brain’s neutral routes to register that the limb is not there anymore. They sense the imaginary movement of the amputated part acting as the regular movement through a mirror.
Final Words
Amputation is, at times, vital in traumatic situations, like injuries from military combat or road accidents. Some ailments also advance to a stage where amputation is required, and those who have diabetes, vascular diseases, or tumors might, ultimately, require amputation.