Acupuncture in phantom limb pain.

Abstract

A case of a 36-year-old man, with a history of traumatic amputation below the elbow on the left side, resulting in intractable phantom limb pain, is described. The patient failed to respond to a variety of medications including several analgesics, tranquilizers, and a beta-blocker. Other extended series of conventional treatment modalities, which included stellate ganglion and peripheral nerve blocks and neuromal excision with the anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve, did not relieve the pain. Acupuncture was then attempted with the subjective relief of phantom limb pain and the objective result that the patient could wear a prosthesis.