Pain
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The incidence and clinical picture of non-painful and painful phantom limb sensations as well as stump pain was studied in 58 patients 8 days and 6 months after limb amputation. The incidence of non-painful phantom limb, phantom pain and stump pain 8 days after surgery was 84, 72 and 57%, respectively. Six months after amputation the corresponding figures were 90, 67 and 22%, respectively. ⋯ During the follow-up period the localization of phantom pains shifted from a proximal and distal distribution to a more distal localization. While knifelike, sticking phantom pains were most common immediately after surgery, squeezing or burning types of phantom pain were usually reported later in the course. Possible mechanisms for the present findings either in periphery, spinal cord or in the brain are discussed.