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Phantom Limb Pain

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2.1 Literature Review War trauma. Soldiers that are sent for missions are exposed to physical and psychological wounds, particularly to war trauma. (Boserelle,& Cupa, 2011). Land mines, exploding shells and direct bullet injury are just some causes of war–related amputations on foot and ankle among respondents in a study by Ebrahimzadeh & Rajabi in 2007. As more and more U.S. veterans come from Iraq and Afghanistan with a missing limb, much attention is given to a bewildering phenomenon that young soldiers feel an agonizing pain in a body part that no longer exists. (Bierma & Woolston, 2015). 1. Phantom Limb Pain Phantom Limb Pain (PLP) is defined as a painful phenomenon at the site amputation (Fieldsen & Wood, 2011) on the area of the …show more content…

This may help explain why patients experience PLP. Nurses have an important role in managing pain control because they have more contact with patients who are experiencing pain than any other healthcare professionals. (Fieldsen & Wood, 2011). Several theories emerge to the pathophysiology of phantom limb pain, including cortical reorganization or neuroplasticity (Virani et al, 2014; Hunter, Katz & Davis, 2008; Anwar, 2013; Hill, 1999), Proprioceptive memory theory (Virani et al, 2014), and peripheral theories. (Virani et al, 2014; Anwar, 2013). In cortical reorganization or neuroplasticity, signals that are sent to the somatosensory cortex of the brain from the previous pathway of the missing limb are replaced with new signals from an assigned area adjacent to the genetically assigned area (Virani et al, 2014). Extent of cortical reorganization is related to the degree of pain. Greater somatosensory extent involvement is associated with more intense phantom limb pain experience. (Anwar, 2013). In proprioceptive memory theory, pre-amputation pain memories are retained. (Virani et al, …show more content…

Fifteen studies were used to be identified and reviewed. Two studies involved mirror therapy after amputation of the upper limb, five were focused on mirror therapy after stroke, five on mirror therapy with complex regional pain syndrome 1, one on mirror therapy with complex regional pain syndrome 2, and 2 on mirror therapy after hand surgery than amputation. The review showed that mirror therapy was most effective in upper limb treatments of patients who had stroke and CRPS. ( Ezendam et al.,

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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a nerve disorder that occurs at the site of an injury. It occurs especially after injuries from high-velocity impacts such as those from bullets or shrapnel. However, it may occur without apparent injury. The arms or legs are usually involved. SYMPTOMS CRPS is a chronic condition characterized by: • Severe burning pain.

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1060 Words | 5 Pages

Therapy would consist of psychosocial and emotional issues to help deal with limb amputations, post traumatic

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1110 Words | 5 Pages

One form of pain is physical pain by being inured. This type of pain was one of the most common, and caused many people to die in the war. Paul got hurt in the All Quiet on the Western Front and was forced to go to a hospital to get surgery. He saw many others with blown off hand and limbs and considered himself lucky that he still had all of his. If a soldier had a wound in the hand and it would take a lot of time and care to heal they would often just amputate part of the arm.

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In this video Dr. Vilayanur Ramachandran explains how the brain works and he began investigation about the “phantom limb syndrome”. Describe each disorder in detail, including symptoms/ disabilities and identify the brain areas/pathways associated with each disorder. Derek Steen had a motorcycle accident thirteen years ago, and he lost his left arm. Dr. Ramachandran was testing him Derek on his arm that no longer exist.

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214 Words | 1 Pages

Because people who have phantom limb pain complain of a constant pain many health practitioners have attempted surgery based upon the premise that it is a nerve issue; however, surgery to fix the pain is unsuccessful. Ramachandran came up with the concept that the somatosensory homunculus on the right side of the brain has the representation of the face next to the hand on the cortex. Because the hand is no longer present, there is no stimulus coming from the hand to the somatosensory cortex. The cortex wants stimulation from the hand therefore the face encompasses the hand section of the somatosensory cortex and begins to activate the hand when the face has a stimulus. This apparent reorganization of the individual’s somatosensory cortex

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For many years the only injury soldiers were believed to have could be seen with the naked eye; however, the real injuries are within the soldier’s mind. Most soldiers and victims of war suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), their own minds become danger zones as they recall horrific experiences when they dream, think, or merely close their eyes. The emotional pain stays with the victim years after the war is over. The physical pain that a soldier or victim endures can be healed with time and care, the emotional trauma they deal with stays with them for a lifetime. The psychological pain that the victims endure usually goes unnoticed until after the traumatic event.

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Throughout the years researchers have noted numerous objections of an odd type of torment called phantom limb pain. This torment is abnormal in light of the fact that it is situated in a member that no more exists. By large portions of the amputees the agony is depicted as absolutely unendurable. For the amputee populace this is a manifestly obvious issue that unquestionably should be illuminated. Torment and other sensation in a removed or truant appendage, are understood marvels.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops from a traumatic experience months or even years after the event itself, causing many hard-to-identify symptoms. As our knowledge of PTSD has expanded, we have learned that it can be induced from any traumatizing experience a person might encounter, however many cases of PTSD are discovered in people after returning home from war. Due to the psychological nature of this condition and the absolute lack of physical anomalies associated with it, there has been a shortage of adequate healing procedures in place for PTSD over the years. In spite of this, some veterans have found outlets to cope, for better or worse, with their newfound psychological abnormalities. Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried

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In Jane Brody’s alarming article, “War Wounds That Time Alone Can’t Heal” Brody describes the intense and devastating pain some soldiers go through on a daily basis. These soldiers come home from a tragic time during war or, have vivid memories of unimaginable sufferings they began to experience in the battle field. As a result these soldiers suffer from, “emotional agony and self-destructive aftermath of moral injury…” (Brody). Moral injury has caused much emotional and physical pain for men and women from the war.

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Imagine joining the military at a young age, preparing to see the world, make new friends, and form a bond that often rivals that of close siblings. Only to endure the unthinkable the unimaginable an attack not by a foreign enemy but at the hands of a fellow soldier or superior officer. This is the tragic truth for many soldiers, both men and women alike, it is not uncommon and it is an invisible wound that lasts long after the soldier returns to civilian life. This paper will reflect the importance of change within the Veterans Administration regarding Military Sexual Trauma. Ruth Moore, joined the military at the tender age of eighteen from a poor background expecting the military to help her pay for college.

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The literature shows that multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary intervention approach is the best selected intervention for individuals with LBP [40-43]. The effectiveness of the interdisciplinary treatment for LBP is supported by the literature; it significantly relieves pain, improves physical function and mental health, and reinforces the use of self-management skills for individuals with LBP [40-42]. A systematic review shows that interdisciplinary intervention has a greater effect on long, medium, and short term pain and disability compared to the usual care and physical therapy treatment (i.e. “heat and electrotherapeutic modalities; aerobic, stretching, and strengthening exercises; manual therapies; and education interventions”) [44].

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579 Words | 3 Pages

Use of mirror therapy in rehabilitation after stroke and regional pain syndrome has also been

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When suffering from peripheral neuropathy, it may feel like a stabbing or burning feeling. Peripheral neuropathy is a result of damage to your peripheral nerves, often causes weakness, numbness, and pain. Sometimes it can affect one nerve which is mononeuropathy, if it affects two or more in different areas then it’s called multiple mononeuropathy or polyneuropathy. Your peripheral nervous system sends information from your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. It can be caused by traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes, or even exposure to toxins.

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Soldiers train rigorously, preparing for the departure of war. They sacrifice all that they have to fight for their country. As they return after the war, they are left with painful experiences and traumatizing memories, suffering from their inevitable conditions. However, the spouse, families and children back at home are suffering even more than soldiers.

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In 2017, an estimated 36.7 million people were living with HIV with a global HIV prevalence of 0.8% among adults.1 In the Philippines alone, an estimated 56,000 people were infected with HIV.2 Pain has always been an important part of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease and its experience for patients. Many of those infected suffer from peripheral neuropathy. Chronic pain remains a significant problem in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus and it is associated with psychological and functional morbidity, even in the absence of advanced disease complications. Chronic pain with HIV patients has a current prevalence ranging from 39% to 85% depending on the study.3 Pain is the second most common symptom in ambulatory settings where HIV disease is treated. Nearly half of that pain is neuropathic due to injury to the central or peripheral nervous systems from direct viral infection, infection with secondary pathogens, or side effects of

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