Phantom Limb Syndrome as a Psychological Condition - Essay Example

Most of the sensations are often very painful. This is because the phantom limb often seems to be distorted, shorter, and out of position. Phantom Limb Syndrome can be aggravated when the patient is under stress, depression, or anxiety and variations in weather conditions (Boatright, 2010). The pain is usually for a short time and reduces over time as the patient comes to terms with their condition.

Phantom Limb syndrome is a psychological condition since the pain that the patient feels is actually from a nonexisting limb. The condition has existed for a long time and several measures have been put in place to help patients. Some of the medical procedures over the years aimed at treating phantom limbs have resulted in failures (Boatright, 2010). Most patients with phantom limb syndrome are often convinced that the limb still exists and even feel like picking up things using the amputated limb. They often use gestures while they are talking as if they still have limbs. They often feel twitches and itches in the amputated arms. Individuals born without limbs often have a different sensation known as phantom pain, which also affects paralyzed people. This occurs when the nerves that would innervate missing limbs start to cause severe pain.

As a neuropsychologist, it is common to encounter clients with phantom limbs. This patient, for instance, is a war veteran from Afghanistan who lost her left limb during her career. She has been experiencing phantom limb syndrome after her left arm was amputated and has been feeling cramps around the area. One of the neurological theories explaining the cause of phantom limbs is the suggestion that it occurs as a result of irritation from nerve endings in the amputated limb called neuromas (Halligan, 2002). The nerve endings become inflamed and send anomalous signals to the brain, which are interpreted as pain. Treatments based on this theory have often led to failures. A neurologist Ramachandran developed the theory that phantom limbs occur as a result of ‘cross-wiring’ in the somatosensory cortex located in the post-central gyrus (Halligan, 2002).

The mirror neurons in the brain also play a role in initiating phantom limb syndrome. A lot of treatment methodologies have been developed to cure phantom limbs but specific mechanism-based treatment methods have yet to be developed (Boatright, 2010). Phantom limb syndrome is treatable. Mirror therapy is one of the latest therapies recommended for treating this syndrome. Successful treatment of phantom limbs employs a multidisciplinary approach to managing pain and the rehabilitation process (Boatright, 2010).
Drugs like antidepressants are very useful in helping patients with this condition. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Acetaminophen, and opioids are also commonly used in the treatment of phantom limbs (Boatright, 2010). Another treatment useful treatment is Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), which is very effective in treating phantom pain. Read More