Treatment FAQ

what is best treatment for phantom limb pain medication or mirror therapy

by Ludie D'Amore Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Although no one type of therapy will work for all individuals with phantom limb pain, various therapies have proven to be effective. Mirror box therapy consists of a box with two holes and a strategically placed mirror. The intact limb is placed so that it appears both limbs are still viable.

Medications used in the treatment of phantom pain include: Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) might relieve phantom pain. Take these medications only as directed by your doctor.Jun 11, 2021

Full Answer

How can rehabilitation help phantom limb pain?

Phantom limb pain is sometimes caused by an ill-fitting prosthetic limb. If this is the case, then participating in rehabilitation to help you with your prosthetic may also aid in alleviating your pain. Being comfortable in a well-fitting prosthetic could help you to stave off pain or help reduce it.

How to stop Phantom Pain?

On gamepad press the left d-pad button again, on keyboard I don't know, but probably the same key you pressed to initiate it. Press 4. It stops any active effect (invisibility, cigar, infrared erm infrayellow, etc). Note: This is ONLY to be used to report spam, advertising, and problematic (harassment, fighting, or rude) posts.

How can phantom limb pain be treated?

Treatments for phantom limb pain include:

  • Physical therapy
  • Antidepressants
  • Pain medications
  • Mirror therapy- wherein mirrors are used to trick your brain into thinking you still have both limbs
  • Nerve stimulation
  • Interventional injections

How to manage phantom limb pain with a prosthesis?

The categories of some of the medications you might be given include:

  • Acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Opioids (narcotic pain medications)
  • Antidepressants
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Beta-blockers
  • Muscle relaxants.

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Does mirror therapy reduce phantom limb pain?

Study findings showed that self-delivered mirror therapy is indeed effective for phantom pain. Almost half of the participants reported phantom pain reduction, with an average pain reduction of almost 40 percent.

What type of therapy is sometimes used to help patients deal with phantom limb pain?

Mirror box therapy: The patient actually watches in a mirror while receiving physical therapy to re-map the brain's neural pathways to register that the limb is no longer there. They feel the imaginary movement of the removed limb behaving as the normal movement through a mirror.

What treatment seems to help alleviate phantom limb pain and how does it work?

Studies suggest that mirror therapy can help ease phantom pain. During this therapy, you view the intact limb in a mirror while doing movement exercises for about 20 minutes a day. The reflection tricks the brain into thinking there are two healthy limbs. Over time, the brain encodes this information.

What type of therapy involving the patient's visual cortex can be used to treat phantom limb pains of amputees?

Mirror therapy was first proposed as a potential therapeutic intervention by Vilayanur S. Ramachandran to help alleviate Phantom limb pain, a condition in which patients feel they still have a pain in the limb after amputation.

What helps phantom limb pain?

Non-Medication Treatments for Phantom Limb PainAcupuncture.Massage of the residual limb.Use of a shrinker.Repositioning of the residual limb by propping on a pillow or cushion.Mirror box therapy.Biofeedback.TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)Virtual reality therapy.More items...

Can you treat phantom limb syndrome with physical or occupational therapy?

One condition many people experience after amputation is phantom limb pain, or phantom limb syndrome. It can be a distressing state of affairs, but occupational therapy treatments for adults can help.

How does mirror therapy work?

Mirror therapy uses a mirror to create the illusion that the arm or leg affected by the stroke is moving. After a stroke, mirror therapy can improve movement in affected upper or lower limbs and activities of daily living, and appears useful as a supplement to other stroke rehabilitation activities.

Does magnesium help with phantom pain?

Studies have shown that NMDA receptor antagonists, a class of anesthetics, work to block pain signals from nerves and may relieve phantom limb pain. Natural supplements like juniper berry, grape seed extract, vitamin E, vitamin A, B12, potassium, calcium and magnesium are helpful for some amputees.

Is it better to amputate above or below the knee?

A below the knee amputation (BKA) is a transtibial amputation that involves removing the foot, ankle joint, distal tibia, fibula, and corresponding soft tissue structures. In general, below the knee amputations are associated with better functional outcomes than above the knee amputations.

How often should you do mirror therapy?

Do Mirror Therapy three to five times per day. Initially, you may only be able to observe the image of the mirrored hand and perhaps make small movements. With time, try to make larger and smoother movements with both arms.

How does mirror therapy work for CRPS?

Mirror box therapy for CRPS is thought to work by providing such a visual feedback: by moving the unaffected limb in front of the mirror there is cortical reorganisation of the sensory homunculus within the parietal cortex. Whether these changes in the cortex are a primary or secondary effect of CRPS is still unknown.

What types of injuries might be helped with mirror therapy?

How Mirror Therapy Helps. For those who suffer from the side effects of a stroke, phantom limb pain, or Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Mirror Therapy can provide much needed relief from your symptoms.

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