Phantom limbs
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[[Category:Neuropsychological syndromes]] | [[Category:Neuropsychological syndromes]] | ||
| - | Phantom limb syndrome causes a phantom sensation related to an | + | Phantom limb syndrome causes a phantom sensation related to an individual's amputated or missing limbs. Since it does occur in people born without limbs, it is suggested that people are born with inherent wiring with regard to the sensations felt in the limbs of the body. The afflicted individual feels as though the missing limb is still a part of his body. It feels as though it is moving appropriately with the rest of the person's body, despite the fact that the limb itself is clearly nonexistent. It is believed that the syndrome is caused by an attempt by the brain to reorganize the sensory information that has been disrupted by the amputation. |
Phantom limb syndrome was first diagnosed in the 16th Century by French military surgeon Ambroise Paré. He noted that amputees would report severe pain in their missing limbs. | Phantom limb syndrome was first diagnosed in the 16th Century by French military surgeon Ambroise Paré. He noted that amputees would report severe pain in their missing limbs. | ||
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== Phantom Limb Pain == | == Phantom Limb Pain == | ||
| - | Phantom limb pain is, as the name clearly suggests, the common painful sensations felt in the nonexistent limb. However, such pain can also occur when limbs are fully intact; it can be present in | + | Phantom limb pain is, as the name clearly suggests, the common painful sensations felt in the nonexistent limb. However, such pain can also occur when limbs are fully intact; it can be present in individual's who have undergone some sort of injury - spinal cord or peripheral nerve injuries - in which the brain has been disconnected from the body. |
The pain felt can be described as burning, aching, or as if the hand is being crushed; this is not a definitive list but a sampling of descriptions as the pain seems to vary among the afflicted. People have described it as being excruciating. | The pain felt can be described as burning, aching, or as if the hand is being crushed; this is not a definitive list but a sampling of descriptions as the pain seems to vary among the afflicted. People have described it as being excruciating. | ||
Revision as of 00:19, 29 April 2008
Phantom limb syndrome causes a phantom sensation related to an individual's amputated or missing limbs. Since it does occur in people born without limbs, it is suggested that people are born with inherent wiring with regard to the sensations felt in the limbs of the body. The afflicted individual feels as though the missing limb is still a part of his body. It feels as though it is moving appropriately with the rest of the person's body, despite the fact that the limb itself is clearly nonexistent. It is believed that the syndrome is caused by an attempt by the brain to reorganize the sensory information that has been disrupted by the amputation.
Phantom limb syndrome was first diagnosed in the 16th Century by French military surgeon Ambroise Paré. He noted that amputees would report severe pain in their missing limbs.
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Phantom Limb Pain
Phantom limb pain is, as the name clearly suggests, the common painful sensations felt in the nonexistent limb. However, such pain can also occur when limbs are fully intact; it can be present in individual's who have undergone some sort of injury - spinal cord or peripheral nerve injuries - in which the brain has been disconnected from the body.
The pain felt can be described as burning, aching, or as if the hand is being crushed; this is not a definitive list but a sampling of descriptions as the pain seems to vary among the afflicted. People have described it as being excruciating.
Unfortunately, no singular cause has been discovered for phantom limb syndrome. It could be caused by damaged nerve endings that reform oddly and, as a result, change the way in which they are connected to the central nervous system. Altered neural activity in the brain has also been blamed for phantom limb pain. Researchers have even proposed that the level of stress and number of personal problems a person has can increase the chances of phantom limb pain expressing itself.
References
Neuronal Growth in the Brain May Explain Phantom Limb Syndrome
