Phantom pain and sensation among British veteran amputees.
Using a mail-delivered questionnaire, we surveyed 590 veteran amputees concerning phantom pain, phantom sensation and stump pain. They were selected randomly from a population of 2974 veterans with long-standing limb amputation(s) using a computer random number generator. Eighty-nine percent responded and of these, 55% reported phantom limb pain and 56% stump pain. There was a strong correlation between phantom pain and phantom sensation. The intensity of phantom sensation was a significant predictor for the time course of phantom pain. In only 3% of phantom limb pain sufferers did the condition become worse. One hundred and forty-nine amputees reporting phantom pain discussed their pain with their family doctors; 49 were told that there was no treatment available. Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation, analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were satisfactory methods for controlling phantom limb pain.
Wartan
S W
SW
(UMDS-Anaesthetics), Guy's Hospital, London.
Hamann
W
W
Wedley
J R
JR
McColl
I
I
D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000672:Amputation Stumps; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D001294:Attitude to Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008889:Military Personnel; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059408:Pain Management; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology