Best Phanton Limb Pain Doctors in Reno, Sparks and Carson City, Nevada.
Having a limb removed is a huge adjustment for a person. But when coupled with feelings of phantom limb pain, it becomes drastically more difficult. Both difficult to comprehend and difficult to live with, phantom limb pain is a very real condition that occurs as the body adjusts to the limb being gone. It is a complex pain condition, but one that has promising treatment options that can help to alleviate pain. The Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas are experts in helping amputee patients finally find the relief they need to help cope with their missing limb.
Phantom limb pain is pain that is felt in the part of the limb that was amputated or removed. So if a person’s leg was amputated from the leg down, they might feel pain in their foot, even though the foot is no longer part of their body. Phantom limb pain is very common and affects more than half of all people who have had an amputation.
The most common symptom is pain, which can range from mild to severe and can last anywhere from seconds to days or weeks.
While anyone who had a limb removed can experience phantom limb pain, it is most common in lower limb amputation versus an upper limb. Pain could also mimic the pain sensations felt in the limb prior to the amputation. Many of the sensations can lessen over time, while some people suffer from chronic pain conditions that can become difficult to treat. This often leads to not only a diminished quality of life, but also leads to additional physical and emotional factors. Partnering with a trained pain management specialist is the best way to treat your phantom limb pain symptoms.
Patients who had pain in the limb prior to amputation are also at risk for experiencing phantom limb pain, as well as those who use a prosthetic limb. A person who had a hand or foot amputated has a greater risk for experiencing phantom sensations because the fingers and toes are associated with the cortex of the brain.
The number of years since the original amputation surgery also plays a role in phantom limb pain. Many people report feelings of pain during the first six months after surgery, with the pain generally lessening. Additional research shows that most people continue to have some form of phantom limb pain two years post surgery.
There is no clear reason why phantom limb pain occurs, but most healthcare providers believe it’s caused by a miscommunication in the nervous system. The peripheral nerves send signals to the spinal cord and brain, which tell the body to move. After an amputation, the nerve connection still exists, even through the nerves in the hand, for example, aren’t there anymore. After all, an amputation is a traumatic event. While a person is physically adjusting to life without an arm, the brain is also adjusting to its normal nerve connections being altered. The nerves may send more signals or incorrect signals to the brain, which increases sensitivity and could lead to pain.
Treatment for phantom limb pain focuses on the neurological aspect of the condition. The most common treatment methods include:
The best way to determine which treatment option is best for you and your specific feelings of phantom limb pain is to partner with a trained management specialist. Most often, a comprehensive approach is helpful in treating the many symptoms of phantom limb pain. The
Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas can help patients who are suffering from phantom limb pain finally find relief.
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