Phantom limb syndrome sometimes happens after an amputation injury. A person may feel burning, tingling, pain or other sensations. It essentially still feels like the limb exists, even though they can physically see that it does not.
What is often happening is that there is a mismatch between the neurons in the brain and the nerve tissues that are sending signals. The part of the brain that corresponds to that missing limb still exists, and this neural activity can replicate some of the sensations a person would have felt in the past. Nerves are still firing and sending electrical impulses, even though the complete limb no longer exists.
How common is this?
This is actually a very common issue. Some neurological experts claim that it happens to roughly 90% of people who experience an amputation. If you have been having phantom limb pain, you are certainly not alone.
In some cases, the sensation will fade or stop with time. The brain will adapt and reorganize the sensory network. There are even some types of therapy that can help. One example is mirror therapy, which can help reduce pain and discomfort. Another example is the use of medications, such as pain relievers.
Everyone’s situation is unique, so the treatment that works for one person may not work for another. These are very complex cases where an injured party may need extensive medical intervention or work with therapists after suffering an injury. This can create high medical bills, so it is important for someone who has suffered an amputation injury to know how to seek financial compensation.