Re: Congenital BE w/ phantom pain
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Congenital BE w/ phantom pain
Date:
11/17/1997
Text:
Jim--
You ought to check out an article in Time Magazine's Fall 1997 Special
Issue--Cover features Heroes of Medicine.
There is an article about reflex sympathetic dystrophy which sounds quite a
bit like what you describe.
We have all had patients with seemingly unexplainable pain--some very severe.
Phantom pain is usually the diagnosis and sometimes treatment is attempted
with this in mind--usually with some kind of drug therapy. RSD, however,
certainly seems to explain some cases we have had both now and in the past.
Unfortunately, there is no sure-fire treatment at this point...
JTA (Tom Andrew)
In a message dated 11/11/97 3:49:38 PM, <Email Address Redacted> wrote:
<<At an amputee clinic yesterday we saw a 7 year old girl who has a left
standard short congenital amputation below the elbow. She hasn't worn a
prosthesis since the age of 4. She has never undergone surgery. There are no
anomolies. 2 months ago she began complaining of pain. It seems to be a
vibratory sensation (funny bone type) that moves upward toward her neck. It
seems to increase when she is more active, i.e. running around and playing
with her brother after school. The pain can be caused by pressure in three
select areas (2 anteriorly and 1 lateral posterior) Her residual limb is more
sensitive than her sound side and turns dark purple when cold an red when
hot. She has complained lately of dry skin but it is felt that this is from
the standard granular soap used in elementary school restrooms. Any ideas as
to what might be causing the pain. Pleas comment.>>
You ought to check out an article in Time Magazine's Fall 1997 Special
Issue--Cover features Heroes of Medicine.
There is an article about reflex sympathetic dystrophy which sounds quite a
bit like what you describe.
We have all had patients with seemingly unexplainable pain--some very severe.
Phantom pain is usually the diagnosis and sometimes treatment is attempted
with this in mind--usually with some kind of drug therapy. RSD, however,
certainly seems to explain some cases we have had both now and in the past.
Unfortunately, there is no sure-fire treatment at this point...
JTA (Tom Andrew)
In a message dated 11/11/97 3:49:38 PM, <Email Address Redacted> wrote:
<<At an amputee clinic yesterday we saw a 7 year old girl who has a left
standard short congenital amputation below the elbow. She hasn't worn a
prosthesis since the age of 4. She has never undergone surgery. There are no
anomolies. 2 months ago she began complaining of pain. It seems to be a
vibratory sensation (funny bone type) that moves upward toward her neck. It
seems to increase when she is more active, i.e. running around and playing
with her brother after school. The pain can be caused by pressure in three
select areas (2 anteriorly and 1 lateral posterior) Her residual limb is more
sensitive than her sound side and turns dark purple when cold an red when
hot. She has complained lately of dry skin but it is felt that this is from
the standard granular soap used in elementary school restrooms. Any ideas as
to what might be causing the pain. Pleas comment.>>
Citation
“Re: Congenital BE w/ phantom pain,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 24, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/210081.
