scholarly journals Phantom limb pain after unilateral arm amputation is associated with decreased heat pain thresholds in the face

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xaver Fuchs ◽  
Martin Diers ◽  
Jörg Trojan ◽  
Pinar Kirsch ◽  
Christopher Milde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Heat Pain ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Pain Thresholds ◽  
Arm Amputation ◽  
The Face

scholarly journals Phantom limb pain intensity is associated with generalized hyperalgesia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xaver Fuchs ◽  
Martin Diers ◽  
Jörg Trojan ◽  
Pinar Kirsch ◽  
Christopher Milde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
The Body ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Sensory Threshold ◽  
Heat Pain ◽  
Residual Limb ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Somatosensory Sensitivity ◽  
Generalized Hyperalgesia

AbstractAfter limb amputation, most amputees suffer from phantom limb pain (PLP). The mechanisms underlying this condition are complex and insufficiently understood. Altered somatosensory sensitivity (either heightened or lowered) might contribute to PLP. Recent studies have tested this assumption but mainly focused on the residual limb. However, altered somatosensation in PLP might be generalized. In this study, we applied quantitative sensory testing to 37 unilateral upper-limb amputees (23 with PLP, 14 without PLP) and 19 healthy controls. We assessed thresholds to heat pain (HPT), pressure pain (PPT), warmth detection (WDT), and two-point discrimination (2PDT) at the residual limb, a homologous point and the thenar of the intact limb, and both corners of the mouth. We did not find significant differences in any of the thresholds between the groups. However, higher PLP intensity was significantly related to lower HPT at all measured body sites except for the residual limb. At the residual limb, lower HPT were observed in more distal amputations and in amputees showing a higher degree of prosthesis use. Although WDT did by itself not significantly correlate with PLP intensity at any of the body sites, multiple regression analysis showed the highest multiple correlations with PLP intensity for a combination of high WDT and low HPT at the corners of the mouth. In this model, the combination of HPT and WDT shared 58% of the variance with PLP intensity. Other factors of potential importance, especially residual limb pain, were not significantly associated to any sensory threshold. We conclude that the intensity, but not the presence of PLP is positively associated with higher heat pain sensitivity. Since this association was observed at various, distributed body sites, we suggest that central mechanisms might be underlying such generalized hyperalgesia.

scholarly journals Phantom-limb pain as a perceptual correlate of cortical reorganization following arm amputation

Nature ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 375 (6531) ◽  
pp. 482-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Flor ◽  
T. Elbert ◽  
S. Knecht ◽  
C. Wienbruch ◽  
C. Pantev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Cortical Reorganization ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Arm Amputation

Preoperative Modeling Intervention for Phantom Limb Pain

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheree L. Nichole ◽  
William G. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Pain

Cortical reorganization in phantom limb pain changes after regional anesthesia of the amputated limb

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Montoya ◽  
N. Birbaumer ◽  
W. Lutzenberger ◽  
H. Flor ◽  
W. Grodd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regional Anesthesia ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Cortical Reorganization ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Limb Pain

Novel Visual Methods Evoke Phantom Sensations and Treat Phantom Limb Pain

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Peterzell ◽  
Roberta E. Cone ◽  
Christian Carter ◽  
Alexandrea Harmell ◽  
Judy Ortega ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Limb Pain

Electrical stimulation of referred sensation area alleviates phantom limb pain

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Michihiro Osumi ◽  
Daisuke Shimizu ◽  
Yuki Nishi ◽  
Shu Morioka
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Phantom Limb Pain ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Limb Pain ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Analgesic Effects ◽  
Stimulation Of

Background: Patients with brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) usually experience phantom sensations and phantom limb pain (PLP) in the deafferented limb. It has been suggested that evoking the sensation of touch in the deafferented limb by stimulating referred sensation areas (RSAs) on the cheek or shoulder might alleviate PLP. However, feasible rehabilitation techniques using this approach have not been reported. Objective: The present study sought to examine the analgesic effects of simple electrical stimulation of RSAs in BPA patients with PLP. Methods: Study 1: Electrical stimulation of RSAs for 60 minutes was conducted for six BPA patients suffering from PLP to examine short-term analgesic effects. Study 2: A single case design experiment was conducted with two BPA patients to investigate whether electrical stimulation of RSAs was more effective for alleviating PLP than control electrical stimulation (electrical stimulation of sites on side opposite to the RSAs), and to elucidate the long-term effects of electrical stimulation of RSAs. Results: Study 1: Electrical stimulation of RSAs evoked phantom touch sensations in the deafferented limb, and significantly alleviated PLP (p <  0.05). Study 2: PLP was alleviated more after electrical stimulation on RSAs compared with control electrical stimulation (p <  0.05). However, the analgesic effects of electrical stimulation on RSAs were observed only in the short term, not in the long term (p >  0.05). Conclusions: Electrical stimulation of RSAs not only evoked phantom touch sensation but also alleviated PLP in the short term. The results indicate that electrical stimulation of RSAs may provide a useful practical rehabilitation technique for PLP. Future studies will be required to clarify the mechanisms underlying immediate PLP alleviation via electrical stimulation of RSAs.

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