Origin of phantom limb pain: A dynamic network perspective

e-Neuroforum ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Herta Flor ◽  
Jamila Andoh
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Dynamic Network ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Phantom Pain ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Pain Symptoms

AbstractFunctional and structural plasticity in neural circuits may actively contribute to chronic pain. Changes in the central nervous system following limb amputation are one of the most remarkable evidences of brain plasticity.Such plastic changes result from combined sensorimotor deprivation with intense behavioral changes, including both acquisition of compensatory motor skills and coping with a chronic pain condition (phantom limb pain), which is a common consequence after amputation. This review aims to discuss the latest insights on functional changes and reorganization in nociceptive pathways, integrating analyses in human patients across several scales. Importantly, we address how functional changes interrelate with pain symptoms, not only locally within the primary somatosensory cortex but at a network-level including both spinal and cerebral areas of the nociceptive and pain networks. In addition, changes in the function of neurons and neural networks related to altered peripheral input are dynamic and influenced by psychological factors such as learning, prosthesis usage or frequency of use of the intact limb as well as comorbidity with anxiety and depression. We propose that both central and peripheral factors interact in a dynamic manner and create the phantom pain experience.

scholarly journals Psychological Factors Associated with Phantom Limb Pain: A Review of Recent Findings

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xaver Fuchs ◽  
Herta Flor ◽  
Robin Bekrater-Bodmann
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Body Perception ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Psychological Variables ◽  
Emotional Factors ◽  
Pain Symptoms

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a common phenomenon occurring after the amputation of a limb and can be accompanied by serious suffering. Psychological factors have been shown to play an important role in other types of chronic pain, where they are pivotal in the acquisition and maintenance of pain symptoms. For PLP, however, the interaction between pain and psychological variables is less well documented. In this review, we summarize research on the role of emotional, motivational, cognitive, and perceptual factors in PLP. The reported findings indicate that emotional factors modulate PLP but might be less important compared to other types of chronic pain. Additional factors such as the amount of disability and adjustment to the amputation appear to also play a role. Bidirectional relationships between stress and PLP have been shown quite consistently, and the potential of stress and tension reduction in PLP treatment could be further exploited. Little is known about the role of cognitive variables such as attention or expectation. Catastrophizing seems to aggravate PLP and could be targeted in treatment. Body perception is altered in PLP and poses a potential target for novel mechanistic treatments. More research on psychological factors and their interactions in PLP is needed.

scholarly journals Trajectory of phantom limb pain relief using mirror therapy: Retrospective analysis of two studies

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C. Griffin ◽  
Sean Curran ◽  
Annie W.Y. Chan ◽  
Sacha B. Finn ◽  
Chris I. Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Mcgill Pain Questionnaire ◽  
Mirror Therapy ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Experienced Pain ◽  
Pain Symptoms

AbstractBackground and purposeResearch indicates that mirror therapy reduces phantom limb pain (PLP). Objectives were to determine when mirror therapy works in those who respond to treatment, the relevance of baseline PLP to when pain relief occurs, and what pain symptoms respond to mirror therapy.MethodsData from two independent cohorts with unilateral lower limb amputation were analyzed for this study (n = 33). Mirror therapy consisted of 15-min sessions in which amputees performed synchronous movements of the phantom and intact legs/feet. PLP was measured using a visual analogue scale and the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire.ResultsThe severity of PLP at the beginning of treatment predicted when pain relief occurred. Those with low baseline PLP experienced a reduction (p < 0.05) in PLP by session 7 of treatment, those with medium baseline PLP experienced pain relief by session 14 of treatment, and those with high baseline PLP experienced pain relief by session 21 of treatment. Mirror therapy reduced throbbing, shooting, stabbing, sharp, cramping, aching, tender, splitting, tiring/exhausting, and punishing-cruel pain symptoms.ConclusionThe degree of PLP at baseline predicts when mirror therapy relieves pain.ImplicationsThis article indicates that the degree of baseline PLP affects when mirror therapy relieves pain: relief occurs by session 7 in patients with low PLP but by session 21 in patients with high PLP. Clinicians should anticipate slower pain relief in patients who begin treatment with high levels of pain.

Chronic pain in lower limb amputees: Is there a correlation with the use of perioperative epidural or perineural analgesia?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Benedetti Maria Grazia ◽  
De Santis Letizia ◽  
Mariani Giorgio ◽  
Donati Danilo ◽  
Bardelli Roberta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Postal Survey ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Simultaneous Use

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is common in patients who undergo lower limb amputation. The use of epidural or perineural catheters seems to reduce acute pain after surgery but their effects in a longer follow up are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term prevalence of phantom limb sensation (PLS), phantom limb pain (PLP), and residual limb pain (RLP) and their correlation with perioperative use of epidural or perineural catheters. METHODS: Postal survey. Patients with trans-femoral, trans-tibial or hemi-pelvectomy amputation were asked to partake in the study. The Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire was used for the presence of chronic post-surgical pain. Presence of catheters was retrieved from medical notes. RESULTS: 57 patients at a mean of 4.4 years follow up were included. PLS was reported in 68.4%, PLP in 63.2 % and RLP in 54.4% of amputees. No correlation was identified between pain syndromes and the presence of individual catheters and the duration of their permanence. The simultaneous use of 2 catheters was related to a lesser presence of PLP. CONCLUSIONS: Data on prevalence of PLP, PLS and RLP are consistent with the literature. Favourable effects in PLP reduction in the long term follow up was related to the simultaneous use of two catheters.

scholarly journals Clinical Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes of a Novel Mixed Reality Based System to Manage Phantom Pain for Patients with Lower Limb Amputation.: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiru M Annaswamy ◽  
Kanchan Bahirat ◽  
Gargi Raval ◽  
Yu-Yen Chung ◽  
Balakrishnan Prabhakaran
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Mixed Reality ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Phantom Pain ◽  
Mirror Therapy ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
History Of ◽  
Game Performance

Objective: This report describes the details of Mr. MAPP, a virtual mirror therapy system and the results of a clinical feasibility and evaluation study of a pilot sample of patients with history of lower limb amputation and phantom limb pain. Materials and Methods: Mr. MAPP system uses a Kinect V2 RGB-D camera to capture the patient, generates a live interactive 3D model, and incorporates it into a virtual exergame. Mr. MAPP mirrors their preserved limb and allows participants to visualize their amputated limb virtually and perform their prescribed exercise program. Mr. MAPP creates a digital diary of their therapy sessions by recording game performance and errors. Ten consecutive patients with history of limb loss and phantom pain were targeted for this pilot study. They received a Mr. MAPP system and a laptop for home use for 1-month. Outcome measures including pain intensity and pain interference measured on Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) as well as functional outcomes measured on Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) were obtained at baseline, and after 1-month. Results: Seven participants were enrolled, out of which four completed the study. The study was temporarily suspended due to restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 public health emergency. In-game performance data showed a trend towards improvement in most participants. Compared to baseline, NRS and MPQ scores at 1-month showed no clear trends. PSFS scores improved for 1 participant and remained unchanged for others. Conclusion: Gamified home exercises performed via a novel, mixed-reality system, Mr. MAPP, using which virtual mirror therapy was delivered, is feasible and has potential to improve pain and pain related function in patients with lower limb amputations and phantom limb pain.

An Experimental Study of Atypical Phantom Pain

1965 ◽  
Vol 111 (481) ◽  
pp. 1185-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Pilowsky ◽  
A. Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Phantom Pain ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Emotional Factors ◽  
Psychological Mechanism

A number of writers have drawn attention to the importance of emotional factors in phantom limb pain (Kolb, 1950, 1952; Simmel, 1956; Russell, 1959; Von Hagen, 1963). Kolb (1950, 1952) reported an association between the discussion of certain emotionally loaded topics and accesses of pain in the phantom. Stengel (1965), in his Maudsley Lecture, discussed the role played in these experiences by the psychological mechanism of identification with others. He briefly referred to the patient whom we have studied.

Psychosocial predictors of long-term adjustment to lower-limb amputation and phantom limb pain

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (14-15) ◽  
pp. 882-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisol A Hanley ◽  
Mark P Jensen ◽  
Dawn M Ehde ◽  
Amy J Hoffman ◽  
David R Patterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Lower Limb Amputation ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Psychosocial Predictors ◽  
Limb Pain

Phantom Limb Pain

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth D. Candido ◽  
Teresa M. Kusper ◽  
Alexei Lissounov ◽  
Nebojsa Nick Knezevic
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Therapy ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Body Part ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Phantom Pain ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Surgical Interventions ◽  
Neurologic Sequelae ◽  
The 19Th Century

Post-amputation pain (PAP) has challenged clinicians for centuries. The first written record of this perplexing condition came from the 16th-century French military surgeon Ambrose Paré. The term phantom limb pain (PLP) was coined by Silas Weir Mitchell, who provided a comprehensive description of the condition during the 19th century. Since that time, the understanding of PLP has greatly expanded; however, our knowledge of the exact mechanisms underlying it is still very deficient. Amputation of a body part can result in one sequela or more than one neurologic sequelae occurring concurrently: phantom sensation, phantom pain, and stump pain. The incidence and prevalence vary across the spectrum of these syndromes. A myriad of treatment modalities are employed in an attempt to terminate PLP, including pharmacotherapy, injections, alternative therapy, surgical interventions, and neuromodulation. Despite an extensive search for effective therapeutic options, PLP remains a highly challenging and debilitating condition.

Phantom Limb Pain Responds to Distant Skin Magnets: Support for the Functional Existence of Acupuncture Meridians

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timö Töysä
Keyword(s):  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Leg Pain ◽  
Phantom Pain ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Stopping Treatment

Phantom leg pain in 10 patients was treated with skin magnets to the ipsilateral superior ends, on the thorax, of the leg Yin-meridians (KI.27, LR.14 and SP.21). The majority of patients reported relief of phantom pain while skin magnets were in situ, but in general this benefit was lost soon after stopping treatment. In two cases the method appeared more effective than morphine, and in a few patients it seemed to have some prophylactic benefit.

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