Question

You can still feel senation of an amputated limb, it is called phantom pain.

As I recall, a prof told me that they feel the itching because NTs are still being transmitted down the nerve axons toward the missing nerve. However, there is no place for the NTs to go so they just stop at the end. The brain however thinks they got where they're going and thus you 'sense' the limb that isn't there. This is used in some of the more complicated limb replacement devices now where they can literally put a sensor at the terminated nerve ending which stimulates a motor to move the limb or digit, etc. It's all quite fascinating! Biotech watch out. It's the $6mil man!

ArtsyIndi

I have 2 questions if someone can assist.

How is it possible that someone can still feel an itching or a sense of presence in an amputated limb?

I heard that some people that hit their head and actually see stars, is this really possible and if so, why does that happen?

These are two questions I'm reasearching for my AP class and I do appreciate anyone who can help.

Jenli:p

When I was in graduate school I had to do a "conceptual analysis" paper...which basically is taking a concept & researching all different types of literature. The concept I researched was "aura"...I had the best time doing the research for this concept!! Anyway, the issue of phantom pain came across several times during my research. Every living creature has an aura...an energy field. There is a "camera" that can "image" an aura - it's called "Kirlian photograpy" if I remember correctly. Anyway, I saw pictures that had been taken of a leaf. Then part of the leaf was torn off & re-photographed...the aura was still visible in the outline of the missing part. Anyway, it is thought that this is where phantom pain comes from...the aura is still present around that missing limb & slowly disappears over time. Now, I know this is "kinda out there" but fascinating just the same...so it should come as no surprise that Martha Rogers is my favorite theorist.

I cannot address the "star" issue.

Phantom limb pain is very very real pain/discomfort and is treated as if the person had Chronic pain. (Correct me if I'm wrong pain mngt. specialists out there) It is usually treated with Elavil, Tegretol, and Tricyclics but never narcs.