Phantom Limb Syndrome

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Phantom Limb Syndrome Phantom Limb Syndrome is basically sensations, stimulations or pains felt in a limb after it has been amputated. Dr. Ramachandran describes this phenomenon as receptors in the somatosensory cortex receiving signals from surrounding receptors after its corresponding limb has been amputated, almost cross wiring the receptors per se. People like Derick Stein, an amputee, will even feel incredible pain where their limb(s) once were or in their phantom limb. Many different things have been attempted to quiet down eliminate these pains and incredible sensations of discomfort, from different types of physical therapy to medications. In the somatosensory cortex there are receptors that are connected to all parts of your body, Dr. Ramachandran describes this as “a map of the surface of the body, every point on the surface of the body has a connecting point in your brain.” (Ramachandran). Dr. Ramachandran explains that the sensory receptors for your face and arms are right next to each other. He states that “once a receptor stops receiving signals from its corresponding limb, it will start to pick up on signals and stimulations of surrounding receptors.” (Ramachandran). When this occurs, you can have false feelings in limbs that are no longer there. Derick Stein, an amputee in Dr. Ramachandran case study, lost his arm in an accident, he ripped nerves from his spinal cord in his neck. After his arm was removed he could still feel sensations and pain in his “phantom limb,” he even said that “sometimes the pain was so great that he would turn pale and break out in to cold sweats.” (Ramachandran). He would also feel a strange sensation in his “phantom limb” while shaving the left side of his face, this is due to the receptors in the somatosensory cortex combining signals from surrounding receptors. Some of his struggles included pains or cramping in his

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