Mirror Therapy
Rick
Description
Collection
Title:
Mirror Therapy
Creator:
Rick
Date:
11/6/2015
Text:
Good Friday everyone!
Just a little reminder....Mirror Therapy WORKS!
I'm working with a 40something fella who underwent a traumatic above the knee amputation this summer. The motorcycle-SUV accident caused a lot more damage than just the loss of limb resulting in a great deal of internal fixation to hold his pelvis & residual femur together. Understandably, he experienced a great deal of phantom limb pain & of course, was heavily medicated for some time. His rehab therapist & I introduced him to mirror therapy to see if he could get some relief & lessen dependence on meds. IT WORKS. Literally within one week of practicing mirror therapy he was off his pain meds.
This gentleman sits long legged on his sofa with a mirror propped btwn his legs for 15-20minutes every evening watching tv, reading &/or visiting with friends & family. He says he just glances down at his two legs (one in the mirror) every so often & realizes or thinks Hey there's no pain! & continues on visiting or reading. He also says that if he is 'bothered by' some sensation or PLP while in bed, he just concentrates & envisions sitting on the sofa looking into the mirror at his two, pain free legs & the pain or sensation disappears.
Let's not forget to share this with our patients. If it only works for 50% of them, it's well worth it!
Rick Milen, CPO
NEXSTEP, Inc.Prosthetic Specialists & Zombie Buck DesignsBernville, PA
Just a little reminder....Mirror Therapy WORKS!
I'm working with a 40something fella who underwent a traumatic above the knee amputation this summer. The motorcycle-SUV accident caused a lot more damage than just the loss of limb resulting in a great deal of internal fixation to hold his pelvis & residual femur together. Understandably, he experienced a great deal of phantom limb pain & of course, was heavily medicated for some time. His rehab therapist & I introduced him to mirror therapy to see if he could get some relief & lessen dependence on meds. IT WORKS. Literally within one week of practicing mirror therapy he was off his pain meds.
This gentleman sits long legged on his sofa with a mirror propped btwn his legs for 15-20minutes every evening watching tv, reading &/or visiting with friends & family. He says he just glances down at his two legs (one in the mirror) every so often & realizes or thinks Hey there's no pain! & continues on visiting or reading. He also says that if he is 'bothered by' some sensation or PLP while in bed, he just concentrates & envisions sitting on the sofa looking into the mirror at his two, pain free legs & the pain or sensation disappears.
Let's not forget to share this with our patients. If it only works for 50% of them, it's well worth it!
Rick Milen, CPO
NEXSTEP, Inc.Prosthetic Specialists & Zombie Buck DesignsBernville, PA
Citation
Rick, “Mirror Therapy,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/237829.
