Summary
In the present study, 24 patients suffering pain from a phantom limb were given vibratory stimulation or placebo as a pain-relieving measure. During stimulation, a reduction in pain was reported by 75% of the patients as compared to 44% during placebo. Depending on the phantom sensation, the best pain-reducing site was found to be either the area of pain or the antagonistic muscle. In 90% of the patients the best pain-reducing effect was obtained when stimulation was applied with moderate pressure over a large area. The results of the present study suggest that vibratory stimulation may be a valuable symptomatic treatment measure in patients suffering pain from a phantom limb.
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Lundeberg, T. Relief of pain from a phantom limb by peripheral stimulation. J Neurol 232, 79–82 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313905
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00313905