Whole-Body Cryostimulation, a Complementary Treatment for Phantom Limb Syndrome: Preliminary Evidence from a Case Study

Abstract

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a challenging condition affecting a significant proportion of amputees. In this article, we describe the case of a 54-year-old Paralympic athlete with phantom limb syndrome following right leg amputation and widespread sports-related enthesitic pain who underwent a whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) cycle, an emerging treatment known for its rapid pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects. Assessments were conducted before and after a 10-session WBC cycle, including pain and quality of life assessment and use of medications. A substantial reduction in enthesitic pain, PLP intensity, paresthesia, and tingling related to atmospheric events and improved function and quality of life were reported after the WBC cycle and lasted for two weeks. One month after WBC, the enthesitic pain following sports activity and PLP gradually returned, but with lesser intensity. Similarly, the stump’s sensitivity to atmospheric changes returned, but with lower frequency. Pain at night remained lower than before WBC, with significantly improved quality of sleep. This case study suggests that WBC could be a valuable adjuvant treatment for alleviating PLP. Controlled studies are warranted to validate the findings of this case report and elucidate the mechanisms underlying the positive effects of WBC in this condition.

Whole-Body Cryostimulation in Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review

“…However, an emerging complementary treatment such as WBC promises to increase the efficacy of such interventions, partly and especially because it has been shown to be safe, acceptable, and with a low risk of side effects, since adverse events appear to be rare in relation to the extent of WBC growth worldwide [39,42,111].…”

Whole Body Cryostimulation: A New Adjuvant Treatment in Central Sensitization Syndromes? An Expert Opinion

“…Phantom limb pain (PLP) can also be included in CSS because of the complex interaction between the peripheral and central nervous systems [ 64 , 65 ]. A recent study on an amputated paralympic athlete with phantom limb syndrome and chronic pain due to CS showed a clinically significant reduction in PLP intensity and paraesthesia that lasted for two weeks after WBC and returned at a lower intensity after one month, allowing a better sleep quality than before WBC [ 66 ].…”