Experiencing such significant harm to a limb that you need to have it amputated can be life-altering. This type of catastrophic injury can leave you unable to enjoy your life as you used to, while at the same time forcing you to deal with phantom limb pain.
Learn more about what can cause phantom limb pain, what you could feel, and what treatments could help.
What Is Phantom Limb Pain?
After an amputation, many people experience phantom limb pain (PLP). It is real and severe pain that feels as though it comes from the missing limb.
PLP can cause symptoms such as:
- Numbness
- Burning
- Itching
- Aching
- Stabbing
- Pinching
- Tingling
- Twisting
- Throbbing
- Temperature changes
Some people feel like their limb is still attached or that it’s shrinking or moving around. Those who experience this type of pain generally do so within the six months after the amputation. The pain level and frequency will vary, but usually, the symptoms decrease over time. Some people, however, continue to have PLP for up to two years after the amputation.
What Causes Phantom Limb Pain?
An amputation, whether as a result of medical malpractice or an accident, means facing the possibility of PLP. This pain usually results from cortical remapping. Your brain will no longer receive signals from that limb, which leads nearby brain areas to take over those neural pathways and misinterpret residual signals.
Your peripheral nerves send messages to your spinal cord and brain, too. After the amputation, the nerve connection remains, even if the nerves in the limb are no longer there. The body can struggle to make sense of this, which can lead to PLP.
Certain triggers can make the discomfort worse. Anxiety, cold weather, fatigue, and stress can all spark or worsen episodes of pain.
How Is PLP Typically Treated?
Living with pain can significantly lower your quality of life, but various treatment options may be available depending on the circumstances. One common example is medications, like neuropathic pain drugs or short-term pain relievers.
Some people also benefit from mirror therapy. This type of therapy uses a mirror to reflect the intact limb, tricking your brain into seeing the missing limb move.
It’s also possible to try nerve stimulation. This can be done via transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which uses low-voltage electrical currents to help alleviate pain. Additionally, you can benefit from cognitive-behavioral therapy to change the stress and negative thoughts you may experience regarding the missing limb. It can help reduce pain.
Addressing Your Legal Rights
After suffering such a serious loss because of another party’s misconduct, consider pursuing a personal injury claim. These legal actions can make it possible for you to recover your losses and address medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other damages you have experienced.
The severity of the injury means you could be entitled to a substantial settlement. That is why you need to hire an attorney to represent you. They will know how to gather the right evidence and calculate your full losses so that you don’t miss out on compensation that could be rightfully yours.
It’s also vital to have a lawyer who will negotiate aggressively with insurance companies. These companies will do everything they can to minimize your claim, which can leave you without the coverage you need to receive ongoing therapy and other medical care. With the right lawyer by your side, you can protect your rights.
Contact the Atlanta Catastrophic Injury Lawyers at Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If someone else caused the accident that led to your amputation and PLP, you may be entitled to compensation to cover your financial and personal losses. You need a strong legal team on your side to ensure you recover fair damages and hold the responsible party accountable.
For more information about how we can help, call the Atlanta catastrophic injury lawyers at Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Malone Law Medical Malpractice and Severe Injury Lawyers
2 Ravinia Dr NE Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30346
(770) 390-7550
Social Media