Phantom Limb Syndrome

Phantom Limb Syndrome occurs when a person has a limb amputated, yet painful and nonpainful sensations can still be felt in the area where the limb used to be. A non-painful sensation will typically cause a person to feel as if the absent limb is experiencing movement, contact with an object, temperature change, or itching. A painful sensation, however, may cause a person to feel sharp, tingling pain as if pins and needles are being thrusted through the amputated area. Recent studies have found that 5 to 10 percent of people with amputated limbs will experience Phantom Limb Syndrome at one point following the amputation. Phantom limb syndrome happens when the severed nerve endings are irritated at the amputated area. Depending on your condition, phantom limbs can be successfully treated through peripheral neuropathy treatment at SF Bay Peripheral Neuropathy in San Ramon.
If you are suffering from continued pain following an amputation, you may have what is called Phantom Limb Syndrome. Once the pain begins, your first priority should be to schedule an evaluation with a San Ramon chiropractor who understands and specializes in nerve damage. The number to call is (925) 393-0100. At SF Bay Peripheral Neuropathy in San Ramon, we treat many conditions, and there is no reason for your pain to continue after being treated regularly. Our non-invasive approach to pain relief and injury recovery has proved to have very successful results.
How Does SF Bay Peripheral Neuropathy Assess Phantom Limb Syndrome?
Assessing the pain is actually one of most difficult things to do for doctors because it’s about communication, and establishing a dialogue about pain between the patient and doctor can be challenging based on the amount of information to obtain in a short amount of time. For instance, a typical assessment will begin with consulting your health history. Doctors will want to know if the pain is intermittent or constant, the kind of pain (e.g., stabbing, burning), pain triggers, when pain is more likely to occur during the day, and how much pain you are in on a scale of 0-10. After establishing a dialogue of your situation and understanding the extent of your pain, doctors will inquire about previous treatments and any medications you are taking. Some doctors may ask you to keep a journal of the pain that details when you have pain and the types of pain that occur. This will help them better understand the patterns of your condition. A good assessment will help doctors understand what type of treatment will best suit you to relieve the amount of stress you have.
Don’t let your pain from phantom limb syndrome prevent you from living! SF Bay Peripheral Neuropathy can help. Call (925) 393-0100 to make an appointment today.