Pain
Pain is your body telling you that you have hurt it. This is a good thing, important when you are injured. It can also help diagnose problems with your body. Sometimes pain continues long after it's necessary. Amputees report phantom pain in the legs or arms they no longer have.
There are different kinds of pain, and describing the type is useful in diagnosis: recurring, constant, steady, knife-like, radiating, sharp, dull. Medicines that dull pain are analgesics. Those that kill all feeling are anesthetics.
Recently Answered
- Q How does my body feel pain?
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Dr. Harris McIlwain, Pain MedicineYour body has roughly twenty different nerve endings in the skin that tell you if something is hot, cold, or going to be painful. The nerve endings convey this information to the brain and spinal cord, also known as the central nervous system, areas... Full Answer
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- Q What do I need to know about caring for someone with central pain syndrome?
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Probably the first and most important thing you can do for someone with central pain syndrome is to recognize that the pain is not imagined-it is real and can be severe. Not only can it be severe, it is chronic and may be widespread. The slightest... Full Answer
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- Q What do I need to know about caring for somebody with physical pain?
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It is important to remember living with physical pain is uncomfortable and family and friends affected may need your help. Depending on the cause of the physical pain, this may include assisting with daily duties, helping with medications, or offering... Full Answer
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- Q What would cause upper right quadrant pain?
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There are many causes of right quadrant pain. The most common cause is gallbladder disease. Other causes would include liver disease, pancreatic problems or kidney problems. To determine the cause your doctor will take a history and perform a physical... Full Answer
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- Q Does TENS nerve stimulation help treat phantom limb pain?
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There is not enough reliable evidence to draw a firm conclusion about the treatment of phantom limb pain with TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation). Promising preliminary research requires confirmation with better quality studies. You... Full Answer
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- Q Are there alternative treatments for phantom limb pain after an amputation?
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There are many alternative treatments that a patient can try at home to help relieve phantom limb pain. Relaxation, acupuncture, and meditation can help relieve pain and tension. Staying active, exercising, and getting enough sleep can help. It can be... Full Answer
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- Q How can phantom limb pain after an amputation be treated?
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Treating phantom limb pain is not always easy. Antidepressants and anticonvulsants have been found to relieve nerve pain. Narcotics are often prescribed for pain management. Stimulating the nerves and the spinal cord with mild electrical currents is also... Full Answer
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- Q What causes phantom limb pain after an amputation?
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No one knows exactly what causes phantom limb pain. However, tests show activity in the brain when the pain is felt, so phantom limb pain is believed to come from the nervous system. After a limb has been amputated, the parts of the nervous system that... Full Answer
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- Q Do I need surgery for phantom limb pain?
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Surgery is a last-resort option for phantom pain. Sometimes pain can be relieved by re-cutting the nerve endings at the amputation site, particularly if the pain was caused from the previous site becoming irritated. However, as with the first amputation... Full Answer
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- Q Do I need x-rays or other images taken for phantom limb pain?
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In general, diagnosis is made based on a person's report of their symptoms and history, and sometime a physical exam. Imaging techniques may be used as a part of your treatment, however. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used before brain stimulation... Full Answer
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