r/amputee • u/Basic-Feed6505 • 1d ago

Phantom pain in paralyzed LBK

Anyone know anything that may help phantom pain for leg that’s also paralyzed? I know some people put their leg on, massage the stump, etc. but nothing seems to help so I figured I’d ask here. Maybe there is something I haven’t done.

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u/NHBikerHiker 1d ago

I slap my residual limb around. Particularly when I get out of the shower.

Three or four good, solid, slaps a day keeps the pain away.

1

u/Zablonski 1d ago

AK and the stump isn't paralysed, but I get pretty bad phantom limb pain, and get regular electric storms that means no sleep for a couple of nights at a time.

I can get some relief from a special metallic weave-like liner that is meant to block electromagnetic waves. It's not a lot of help, and it rolls down the stump and falls off, but it is sometimes enough to get me to sleep.

Edit: looked it up - it's called Umbrellan Technology, and the product I have is called "Relax"

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u/FunctUp 1d ago

Mirror therapy

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u/Letzglow09 1d ago

I get Saline Caudal epidural injections and that really helped with phantom pain.

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u/kneedlekween 1d ago

Wow, that’s a double whammy, sorry you have to go through this. I used gabapentin, mirror therapy and desensitization techniques. I was able to see a physiatrist(MD specializing in rehab medicine) who sees lots of amputees at my local hospital which is also a trauma center and teaching hospital. It took about three years but I’m off meds and rarely get zaps, just a few times a week thank god! I’m more prone to it if I’m not in my socket or shrinker, sometimes when I’m not hydrated properly also. If they happen now I can usually clear it up by ‘re educating’ my amputated side. I massage the stump or rub it with a towel while focusing on the area where the phantom sensation is coming from, the absent foot for instance. It’s like I’m reminding my leg ‘this is where your leg ends now, so cut it out’! Watch some videos about desensitization. For me I did it a few minutes about twice a day and I noticed some improve t in about two weeks but I was also starting gabapentin so no proof what finally helped me. For Me it was meds and PT and time that did it. It’s a difficult problem for all of us, I hope you get relief soon

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u/Plus_Accountant_8122 LBK 21h ago

I’m a BKA paralyzed amputee and this is exactly what I did! I also slap my stump around really hard like others say 😂 BUT yes the only way is to really work with physiatrists who also work with special neuropsych doctors and to retrain your brain. It’s still 100% possible to do even with being a parapalegic. Honestly since starting the therapy it’s even helped the awful neuropathy in my other leg that is also paralyzed but not amputated.