Phantom limb pain is the name given to unpleasant sensations and pain experienced due to the absence of a limb from birth or following the loss of a limb through amputation.
The cause of phantom limb pain is not known and it is experienced differently by each individual, but it affects 75-80% of amputees at some point after amputation. In some cases symptoms can be so severe that they disrupt sleep and negatively impact mood and quality of life.
Treatment for phantom limb pain includes painkillers, specialised physiotherapy (such as mirror therapy), psychological counselling and therapies such as guided imagery.
The link I have included below is to an abstract of a pilot study, please click to find out more:
Brown, Christine Ann; Lido, Catherine
Complement Ther Clin Pract 2008 2 14 124-131
References for this blog:
The Nerve Surgery Centre Pain After Limb Amputation. Available at: https://nervesurgery.uk/residual-limb-pain/ (Accessed 29 July 2025).
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Phantom Limb Pain. Available at: https://roh.nhs.uk/services-information/oncology/phantom-limb-pain (Accessed 29 July 2025).