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Phantom limb pain: relief by application of TENS to contralateral extremity. 1985

R A Carabelli, and W C Kellerman

Three adult patients with below-knee amputation of various etiologies were treated at Norristown's Sacred Heart Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in the fall of 1983. The patients ranged in age from 48 to 64 years and two were men. All three had complaints of phantom limb pain originating from various anatomic sites of the amputated extremity. In all three cases the phantom limb pain was severe and hampered prosthetic training. The patients were treated solely by application of the TENS unit to the contralateral extremity at the sites where the phantom pain originated on the amputated limb. All three patients responded to treatment and were able to continue their prosthetic training. A six-month follow-up showed no pain recurrence of phantom limb pain in all three cases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010591 Phantom Limb Perception of painful and nonpainful phantom sensations that occur following the complete or partial loss of a limb. The majority of individuals with an amputated extremity will experience the impression that the limb is still present, and in many cases, painful. (From Neurol Clin 1998 Nov;16(4):919-36; Brain 1998 Sep;121(Pt 9):1603-30) Pseudomelia,Phantom Limb Pain,Phantom Pain,Phantom Sensation,Limb Pain, Phantom,Limb Pains, Phantom,Limb, Phantom,Limbs, Phantom,Pain, Phantom,Pain, Phantom Limb,Pains, Phantom,Pains, Phantom Limb,Phantom Limb Pains,Phantom Limbs,Phantom Pains,Phantom Sensations,Pseudomelias,Sensation, Phantom,Sensations, Phantom
D004561 Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation The use of specifically placed small electrodes to deliver electrical impulses across the SKIN to relieve PAIN. It is used less frequently to produce ANESTHESIA. Analgesic Cutaneous Electrostimulation,Electric Stimulation, Transcutaneous,Electroanalgesia,Percutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation,TENS,Transdermal Electrostimulation,Electrical Stimulation, Transcutaneous,Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation,Percutaneous Electrical Neuromodulation,Percutaneous Neuromodulation Therapy,Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation,Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation,Cutaneous Electrostimulation, Analgesic,Electrical Neuromodulation, Percutaneous,Electrical Neuromodulations, Percutaneous,Electroanalgesias,Electrostimulation, Analgesic Cutaneous,Electrostimulation, Transdermal,Nerve Stimulation, Transcutaneous,Neuromodulation Therapy, Percutaneous,Neuromodulation, Percutaneous Electrical,Neuromodulations, Percutaneous Electrical,Percutaneous Electrical Neuromodulations,Percutaneous Neuromodulation Therapies,Stimulation, Transcutaneous Electric,Stimulation, Transcutaneous Nerve,Therapy, Percutaneous Neuromodulation,Transcutaneous Electric Stimulation,Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation
D004599 Electric Stimulation Therapy Application of electric current in treatment without the generation of perceptible heat. It includes electric stimulation of nerves or muscles, passage of current into the body, or use of interrupted current of low intensity to raise the detection threshold of the skin to pain. Electrotherapy,Electrical Stimulation Therapy,Interferential Current Electrotherapy,Therapeutic Electric Stimulation,Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation,Therapy, Electric Stimulation,Electric Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrical Stimulation, Therapeutic,Electrotherapy, Interferential Current,Stimulation Therapy, Electric,Stimulation Therapy, Electrical,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electric,Stimulation, Therapeutic Electrical,Therapy, Electrical Stimulation
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D059408 Pain Management A form of therapy that employs a coordinated and interdisciplinary approach for easing the suffering and improving the quality of life of those experiencing pain. Management, Pain,Managements, Pain,Pain Managements

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