Relief of pain from a phantom limb by peripheral stimulation.
In the present study, 24 patients suffering pain from a phantom limb were given vibratory stimulation or placebo as a pain-relieving measure. During stimulation, a reduction in pain was reported by 75% of the patients as compared to 44% during placebo. Depending on the phantom sensation, the best pain-reducing site was found to be either the area of pain or the antagonistic muscle. In 90% of the patients the best pain-reducing effect was obtained when stimulation was applied with moderate pressure over a large area. The results of the present study suggest that vibratory stimulation may be a valuable symptomatic treatment measure in patients suffering pain from a phantom limb.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010166:Palliative Care; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000628:therapy*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*