Phantom pain and sensation among British veteran amputees

Abstract

Using a mail-delivered questionnaire, we surveyed 590 veteran amputees concerning phantom pain, phantom sensation and stump pain. They were selected randomly from a population of 2974 veterans with long-standing limb amputation(s) using a computer random number generator. Eighty-nine percent responded and of these, 55% reported phantom limb pain and 56% stump pain. There was a strong correlation between phantom pain and phantom sensation. The intensity of phantom sensation was a significant predictor for the time course of phantom pain. In only 3% of phantom limb pain sufferers did the condition become worse. One hundred and forty-nine amputees reporting phantom pain discussed their pain with their family doctors; 49 were told that there was no treatment available. Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were satisfactory methods for controlling phantom limb pain.

Prevalence and patterns of back pain and residual limb pain in lower limb amputees at the National Rehabilitation Hospital

“…However, 31.3 and 31.6% of BP and RLP patients, respectively reported pain frequency of at least 4 times per week, and 39.2 and 31.6% of BP and RLP patients, respectively, reported pain duration of several hours to days at a time. Similar findings were reported by Wartan et al [5] and Ehde et al [7,9]. We suspect that these patients' pain interference scores are mild and that they feel they can proceed with daily activities, despite the frequency and duration of their pain.…”

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] We found that in the majority of cases, BP and RLP are intermittent, of low frequency (not more than 3 times per week) and each episode is of short duration (not greater than 1 h). However, 31.3 and 31.6% of BP and RLP patients, respectively reported pain frequency of at least 4 times per week, and 39.2 and 31.6% of BP and RLP patients, respectively, reported pain duration of several hours to days at a time.…”

“…RLP is defined as pain originating in the remaining portion of the limb i.e., the stump, as opposed to phantom limb pain, which is felt in the missing body part [1]. Estimates of RLP prevalence vary widely from 22 to 76.1% [2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. RLP has several aetiologies, classified by Davis [1]: prosthogenic, neurogenic, arthrogenic, osteogenic, dermatogenic including wound problems, ischaemic, sympathogenic and referred.…”

The association between depressive mood and pain amongst individuals with limb amputations

“…This lack of standardized diagnostic criteria not only prevents the identification of causative mechanisms of these types of pains, but also makes it difficult for researchers to accurately assess chronic pain incidence in limp amputees. In a survey of a large population of war veteran amputees, 55% of veteran amputees reported sustained phantom limb pain and 56% reported residual limb pain [1]. Similarly, interviews with 914 limbamputees by telephone revealed that phantom limb pain was experienced by 79.9%, and residual limb pain by 67.7% of the amputees [2].…”

“…The purpose of the present study was (1) to evaluate the relationship between pain and depressive mood amongst community dwelling individuals with limb amputations using established scoring tools, and (2) to examine the relationship between the etiology (work-related trauma or other types of etiology) of amputation and depressive mood.…”