Phantom pain used to be regarded as illusion occurring in some patients who lost their limbs. They feel the lost limbs are still attached to trunk and they feel severe pain in these lost limbs. The pain often occurs in the already amputated part. Recent studies find that this pain is not illusion but real sensation originating from spinal cord and brain. Treatment includes antidepressants, spinal cord stimulation, spiritual therapy and acupuncture. During the process of amputation surgery, if local anesthesia is given in addition to general anesthesia, it can effectively prevent the future incidence of phantom pain.
How is Phantom pain treated in practice?