Phantom pains and sensations – how does it feel? Only the patient really knows

Abstract

In the qualitative study by Berit Bjorkman et al. published in this ssue of the Scandinavian Journal of Pain, some interesting aspects n post amputation pain problems and other phantom sensations re presented [1]. The information comes from the narrative inforation obtained by in-depth interviews from patients that have ndergone amputations of an extremity or a breast, and are sufferng from phantom sensations and phantom pain. The manuscript ay seemodd for readers used to scientific articlesmainly presentng medical research based on quantitative data, but it absolutely eserves publication, because it highlights the patients’ own expeience of a very complex pain phenomenon, notoriously difficult to reat. Quantitative research designs give us answers to many aspects hat can be measured in some way, e.g. that phantom limb pain ccurs in 50–80% of amputees, and that it is usually intermittent ndofhigh intensity [2,3]. Furthermore that inphantompain, imagng studies can demonstrate that cerebral cortical reorganization ccurs [4], and that even loss of brain volume takes place [5] as a onsequence of amputation and phantom pains. However, what oes it really feel like to suffer from phantom pains and phanom sensations, and what meaning and what consequences do hey have for the individual? In order to understand these fundaental questions, the quantitative tools, the common foundation or medical research, will never give full answer. To understand his experience better, we can ask a friend that has undergone mputation what she/he experiences or, in a more systematic scintific way, we can apply qualitative narrative research designs 6]. The aim of this study by Berit Bjorkman et al. [1] was to escribe and discuss how patients experienced and interpreted heir post-limb amputation or post-mastectomy phantom pheomena. Focus was set on how patients evaluated the perceived ualities of the phenomenon itself, how different aspects, physical nd socio-cultural, influenced thephenomenon, andhowit affected he every-day life. The study was prospective, i.e. the patients were recruited to he study before the amputation took place, which is a significant trength of the study. The situation was investigated one month