Phantom Limb Pain

pain (pān) a feeling of distress, suffering, or agony, caused by stimulation of specialized nerve endings.

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bearing-down pain  pain accompanying uterine contractions during the second stage of labor.

false pains  ineffective pains resembling labor pains, not accompanied by cervical dilatation.

growing pains  recurrent quasirheumatic limb pains peculiar to early youth.

hunger pain  pain coming on at the time for feeling hunger for a meal; a symptom of gastric disorder.

intermenstrual pain  pain accompanying ovulation, occurring during the period between the menses, usually about midway.

labor pains  the rhythmic pains of increasing severity and frequency due to contraction of the uterus at childbirth.

phantom limb pain  pain felt as though arising in an absent (amputated) limb.

psychogenic pain  symptoms of physical pain having psychological origin.

referred pain  pain felt in a part other than that in which the cause that produced it is situated.

rest pain  a continuous burning pain due to ischemia of the lower leg, which begins or is aggravated after reclining and is relieved by sitting or standing.

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phantom limb pain

n.

Pain or discomfort felt by an amputee in the area of the missing limb.

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Phantom Limb Syndrome

Chronic intense pain localised to the site of an amputated or denervated limb; 60–70% of amputees have a phantom limb sensation; 10–15% have phantom limb syndrome; the pain often reflects the amount of pre-amputation pain, and is often refractory to excision of amputation neuroma, rubbing, electrical stimulation, peripheral nerve or spinal blocks, narcotics, sympathectomy
Treatment Use of a mirror in a box that places the intact limb visually in the same site as the missing extremity; with the use of symmetrical movements, the patient ‘unlearns’ activities that were formerly carried out by the missing limb

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phantom limb pain,

n pain felt by an amputated individual that seems to be arise from the missing limb; often managed by learning to increase flow of blood to the residual limb.