What is phantom pain?
Phantom pain is pain felt in a part of the body that has been surgically or otherwise removed. It is common for patients to have phantom sensation postoperatively; that is, after limb amputation, the patient feels as though the limb is still present. This sensation occurs in nearly all patients undergoing amputation. It usually subsides over days to weeks. A small percentage of patients develop true phantom limb pain, which may be extraordinarily persistent and resistant to conventional medical treatment.
