I thought this was interesting reading. And what we know now is that Biel has something that CAN TRAIN PAIN TO STAY AWAY. Phantom pain is real.
What Causes Phantom Pain, and How Is it Treated?
Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — By Kirsten Nunez on May 20, 2022
Symptoms
Causes
Medical treatment
Other therapies
Remedies
Seeking medical help
Prevention
Vs. referred pain
Summary
Phantom pain is when you feel pain in a body part that you no longer have.
Most commonly, it involves limbs that are no longer there. This is specifically known as phantom limb pain. However, phantom pain is a more general condition and does not necessarily need to include limbs.
Phantom pain can involve non-limb body parts that have been removed, like your:
eyes
teeth
nose
tongue
breasts
penis
It can even include parts of the intestinal tract.
Phantom pain happens after an amputation or injury. Read on to learn about the condition along with options for treatment and prevention.
What phantom pain feels like
The sensation of phantom pain can vary widely. Depending on the person, it might involve:
throbbing
tingling or pins and needles
burning
sharp pain, like shooting or stabbing
cramping
sensations that feel like electric shocks
Causes of phantom pain
The exact cause of phantom pain is unclear, but it’s thought to be related to:
Nerve damage
The removal of a body part causes damage to peripheral nerves. This can irritate and overexcite the nerve endings, causing spontaneous sensations.
Central sensitization
Your peripheral nerves lead to your spinal nerves, which are connected to your spinal cord.
When a peripheral nerve is damaged during amputation or injury, central sensitization may occur. This involves increased neural activity and sensitivity in the spinal cord, resulting in phantom pain.
Brain remapping
After a body part is removed, the brain redirects sensations from that part to another area of the body. This is called remapping or reorganization.
As a result, you may feel pain in the missing body part when the nerves are stimulated in the surrounding area.
Psychological factors
In some cases, certain psychological conditions can trigger or contribute to phantom pain. These factors include:
depression
anxiety
increased stress
How is phantom pain treated?
Phantom pain may go away on its own after several months. But if the pain persists, there are several treatment options:
Medications
The following medications are used to manage phantom pain:
tricyclic antidepressants (most common)
opioids
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
anticonvulsants
NMDA receptor antagonists
Medical treatment
Some medical therapies might also manage phantom pain:
Transcutaneous nerve stimulation. This treatment, known as TENS, stimulates nerves using electrical currents.
Central nervous system stimulation. In this treatment, electrical signals stimulate the brain or spinal cord via implanted electrodes.
Biofeedback. In biofeedback, electrodes are placed near the affected area. A specialist will teach you how to control certain functions in the area.
Other therapies for phantom pain
In addition to medication and medical treatments, the following therapies may be used:
Acupuncture. Acupuncture uses thin needles to stimulate certain areas of the body. Research on its benefits for phantom pain is still ongoing.
Massage. Massaging the affected area may help relieve muscle tension. It’s also useful for managing stress and anxiety.
Mirror therapy. This therapy may be helpful for certain types of phantom pain, including phantom limb pain. It uses a mirror box to reflect the healthy limb onto the amputated side, which tricks the brain.
