Signs and Symptoms

The sensation of pain from an amputated limb is the defining symptom of phantom pain. Characteristics of phantom pain include:

• Onset within the first few days of amputation
• Tendency to come and go rather than be constant
• Seeming to come from the part of the limb farthest from the body, such as the foot of an amputated leg
• May be described as shooting, stabbing, boring, squeezing, throbbing or burning
• May be triggered by weather changes, pressure on the remaining part of the limb or emotional stress

2007-11-09

© 1998-2008 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Terms of Use