The phantom limb feeling and the body sheme: a study on the regression of the phanton limb

Abstract

Most people who have suffered amputations feel the missing limb for some considerable time, as though it were still present: this is the socalled phantom limb feeling. Its origin is as yet unexplained. In the case of amputations in peace-time it often lasts for only a few days or weeks, whereas, when amputations are carried out under wartime condi tions, the feeling of the phantom limb, or the hallucinatory feeling of pain, may last from the moment of the amputation onwards, and its regression is often very slow. By way of analogy one may mention the comparative rarity of causalgias after injuries to nerves in peace-time, as contrasted with the more frequent occurrence of causalgic conditions where wounds take place during war. It may be that the state of vegetative excitation of the amputated persons at the moment of the wounding may have some influence on the origination of the hallucinatory pains. A long period in hospital, often with continuous suppurations, the occur rence of a neuroma, a pressure on the scars, or acanthopelvic formations, are also possible originating causes. The effect of the hallucinatory pains is that the feeling of the amputated person for his phantom limb remains particularly vivid in his consciousness. If there are no hallucinatory pains, then in many cases the sensation of the phantom limb is scarcely felt, or is not felt at all.