What is a phantom limb?

just out of curiosity

"Phantom Limb Syndrome " refers to the brain's perception that there are signals still generated by the missing limb . Amputee's suffer from this and yet when the patient views their reflection in a mirror the signals cease ; the medical community is still conducting on-going experiments concerning this phenomenon .

a song by the shins

It is a phenomenon experienced by someone who has had a limb amputated.

Typically, he or she feels as if the limb still exists and can exert some level of control over it. It is also common to feel pain, dull or severe, in the missing limb.

Some patients report feeling the same sensation they felt right at the time of the injury that removed their limb. It is theorized that it is caused by the remapping of the brain after the injury.

If someone has had a limb amputated, the term "phantom limb" refers to the feeling the amputee has that the limb is still there.

When most doctors or nurses talk about a "Phantom Limb" it is in reference to "Phantom Pain". Many amputees complain in pain in the limb that is no longer there, some times for years after the removal. At least that is my experience with the term.

phantom limb pain

NOUN: Pain or discomfort felt by an amputee in the area of the missing limb.

That is a term used for the sensation a person feels after they have had an extremity amputated. They feel like it is still there and like they are moving it when it isn't there. It is more common than people realize. Hope this answers your question.