Phantom pain/ Real or Not?

[t-barr at t-barr.com]

Thom,

No, My experience is that not all phantom pain results from regeneration of
nerve endings and floating bood vessals and artieries and muscle tissue
which is not stabilized during the amputation procedure.

Many amputees claim they are able to mentally block psychological "phantom"
pain from the once present limb without meds.

The word "phantom" is a phenomenon that tends to elude to it of not being
real.
This makes it possible for many surgeons to reply to complaints of severe
post op pain with this explanation" phantom"!

Our experience is that these sensations peak and often occur 3-5 years post
op.

But ask any amputee whom has experienced it and it's real enough to them to
cause stump pulsation, rise in body temperatures, and real sensations of
having limbs where it is now absent.
Some resort to thinking the problem is the result of a improper fitting
prosthesis, or may resort to taking heavy pain medication and on occasion,
considering suicide as my father did.

Tony Barr
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr

-----Original Message-----
From: AMP-L-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:AMP-L-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Thom Bloomquist
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 6:55 PM
To: Amputee Information Network
Subject: Phantom pain



Tony stated,
"Interesting points of view but hardly viable-most likely the sensation of
phantom pain is escalated as the result of less than adequate surgery that
would help eliminate nerve ending regeneration into forming nueromas, lack
of muscle tissue reattachment causing instability of tyhe stump in the
socket, and improper cordorizing and placement of blood vessels and arteries
in the stump that could remain active and stimulate even more nerve growth.

Many amputees describe their phantom pain as a pulsing feeling which would
explain the blood flow from being simultaneous with one's heart beats.

Promote proper amputation surgery and you will be diminishing the frequency
of phantom pain."

Tony,
Do I understand you as meaning that, in your opinion, all phantoms arise
from neuroma formation and altered muscle biomechanics distally?

Thom