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Phantom Pain Treatment Medications

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Phantom Pain Management

Phantom pain occurs following the removal of a body part. About 70 percent of amputee patients continue to experience sensations of discomfort where the limb was before amputation. Treating phantom pain is a challenge for physicians who often rely on a combination of drugs and therapy.

  1. Theories/Speculation

    • The exact cause of phantom pain is still unknown, but the phenomenon appears to occur in the central nervous system and involve intricate neural interactions of the brain.

    Anticonvulsants

    • In some cases, physicians prescribe anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and gabapentin for phantom pain. The effectiveness of these drugs seems to relate to subsequent improvements in mood and sleep.

    Antidepressants

    • Physicians also may prescribe antidepressants like amitriptyline, which modify the chemicals that transmit pain. Some doctors believe this treatment takes too long and are looking for a more short-term solution.

    Narcotics

    • Powerful narcotics like morphine and codeine also are used to treat phantom pain, but they are not an ideal solution due to their risk of dependency and abuse.

    Alternatives

    • In addition to medications, amputee patients may find pain relief from electrical nerve stimulation, mirror therapy, spinal cord stimulation, acupuncture and surgery.

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  • Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Juhan Sonin

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