What is Amputees
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy ...
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Phantom Limb Pain and Mirroring
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I have left leg paralysis with chronic pain. The pain started at accident onset (1972). My leg was amputated in 1997 due to chronic tissue breakdown and bone infection. The pain, however, is my big problem. I had a drud infusion pump placed in 2004 and as the battery life was due to expire I opted for a replacement (which also meant a newer pump). Unfortunately the surgical site became grossly infected and 3 weeks later (on 7/17) the pump and catheter was removed. I am now only on oral meds opiates and baclofen (and I realize just how much the baclofen was helping control my pain which has gone from unbearable to outright unfathomable). My Dr.'s and myself and wife are not in any hurry to replace the pump back into a site that already rejected the last attempt. Also, due to other health problems my body is rife with infection from open wounds, an ileostomy, and I have a compromised immune system (no spleen and my kidneys are a constant source of trouble.
My doc suggested mirroring - which I am vaguely familiar with. What I want to know is the best place to buy the mirror (box?) and the instructions on how to use the device. I know there has been some success, especially with Iraq war vets. I asked on my home group (chronic pain) and someone suggested that I shoot on over here because you guys (and that's a non-sexist comment instead of saying Ya'all or the plural "AllYa'all") would be up on this info and my replier also added that "They're a friendly bunch always ready to help". So any help I can get would be much appreciated. Thanks, Matt Posted on 08/14/09, 03:08 pm |
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Hi: i had never heard of this before, so i googled it. it explains it pretty good and there r a few links.. womdering if u have tried there.. hope it helps good luck::: Old Joe 
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Hi Matt,
I don't have an answer for you yet. I have doctors, therapist & medical assistance looking into it for me. They have all read good things about it but don't know anyone that uses it. Mu\y therapist was asked to learn mp\ore about it and see about teaching me. My left arm was amputated 11/21/08. My accident was 1/02/07. I'll keep you posted if you'll do the same for me. Nice to meet you. 'Janelle
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I'm still diligently searching this 'mirroring' thing. Lots of articles and info - but no one seens to know how, where etc you can go about getting onr of these devices to try it out. I will definitely keep everyone alerted to anything I find out. But, we seem to be all discovering the same info - but that ONE magic site just wants to hide from us.
Matt
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Matt,
My therapist is on vacation this week. I expect to have more info next week. I'll keep you posted. Janelle
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I think that you could just make one: build a box with a mirror on the side. I've seen them, and essentially that is all that they are. I am getting ready to do essentially that here at my home. I'll let you know how it works out.
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I really hope there is more to it than a mirror. There must be positioning and training involved to achieve the ultimate effect. If there isn't then someone is playing games. I don't know of any effective therapy that requires no training or knowledge. There must be criteria of placement angles and applications. I just wish there was more conversations with professionals that practice this and patients that use (d) it. As soon as I learn more, I'll let you know.
Janelle
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It's a technique that started at Walter Reed hospital. You can buy a $10 full-length mirror from Target, Walmart, etc. If you sit on your bed and place it between your legs, you will see the reflection of your sound leg, but because of the way mirrors reflect, it looks like you have two sound legs! Then, if you massage your sound leg and look in the mirror, your mind "sees" you rubbing the other leg. Have I explained it well enough?
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It really is as simple as MsRobogirl explained. Our minds are easily tricked-- we believe what we see, and the 'mirror doesn't lie'!
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OK. I get what you say to do if it's your leg. My problem is how do you do it when the amputation, and therefore phantom pain, is from my left elbow down. How do I rub? What method do I use to fool my brain?
Thanks, Janellep
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Have someone else do the rubbing. The technique was invented for legs, if I am not mistaken, and it has to be adapted for arms. But you just get someone to rub your good arm, whilst you are looking in the mirror at your 'gone' arm, and that will eventually work.
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