Amputations

Posted on: Tue, May 20 2008 5:50 AM

Posted by: halftrack Posts: 21

Yep.  It's real.  After 30 years, I still get it once in a while.  I used to think I could predict it with weather changes, but it just happens out of the blue.

It'll make you jump, no question.  I've taken tylenol with codeine, but not often, usually just to sleep, but plain old ibuprofen takes the edge off enough to tolerate it until it passes. 

I generally just tough it out. 

Posted on: Tue, May 20 2008 11:09 AM

Posted by: Misin1 Posts: 13

I never correlated the occurance of the pain with too much activity.  I was at the cubs game on Sunday and crutched my arms off which is probably what brought it on.  Like I said after 20 years I don't have it happen often but when it does it sucks!  Sitting here just waiting for the next shock to hit.  Thanks for all the advice - massaging it did help some. 

Posted on: Wed, May 21 2008 8:13 PM

Posted by: betsywetsy Posts: 14

hi, my name is betsy and i'm a new aka on my right side.  I'm having alot of phantom pain especially after i've done too much moving around.  I see a pain management dr. because i've had chronic pain for 3 yrs same leg.  he told me that i need to adress the phantom pain issue as it will continue tor some time if i don't.  i'm taking Lyrica which is a newer Neurontin which is being used for fibromyalgia and other aliments too like nerve pain.  He told me i need to message the strump and keep touching it as much as i can.  I bought a Wahl hand held messager which feels real good.  i can also use it to give myself a facial.  He is also giving me a tens unit that i think provides electrical stimulation to the nerves using low currents.  I DON'T  know alot about it yet cause i have an appt. next thursday.

hopefully, all the things i'm doing will start providing me with full-time relief.  phantom pain is misrable.  last week i was crying it was so bad and was ready to go to the er because no amonunt of pain med was working.

i feel for ya! 

Posted on: Wed, May 28 2008 4:06 PM

Posted by: PEGLEG44 Posts: 10

 hey there i  was on nuroton for phantom pain but it did very little. then the doc put me on  lyrcia witch seemed to help alot   but i still  do get periodic sharp stabbing pains that feel like someone is crushing my foot  i dont think it will ever go away  ask your doc what he thinks about using lyrica   

Posted on: Wed, May 28 2008 4:19 PM

Posted by: brknbnes Posts: 286

One thing I do that I have not read about is to deaden the nerve. I have a bamboo back scratcher that I tap the nerve bundle at the end of my stump. I start out softly and when I'm done I'm whacking that thing pretty good. It seems to cause an overload of pain input to the brain and it shuts down the pain receptors, kinda like when a body part falls asleep. And the pain is gone gone gone. Crude, but drug free. I don't get phantom pain much because I think I've trained them receptors, and they know the routine. Act up and get punished. Kinda like when I was young.

Posted on: Thu, May 29 2008 1:17 PM

Posted by: Evangelist Dave Harper Posts: 129

There is a chemical in our blood called Substance P, which carries the pain signal to the receptors in our brain, if you can interrupt the signal then you can find the relief you seek. I have had severe phantom pain for almost 4 years and it is real despite what the foolishness of those who do not suffer with it say. There is a cream that I use and produce for my company that helps me and many others very well with these symptoms. I have lived with severe chronic pain for almost 12 years and if it can help me sleep at night then that is saying some a lot. I am not here to push any products, that is not my purpose, but you asked if there was anything available to help and there is. Any one who would like the name of the product so you can read about how it works just let me know and I will send you a link.