Karen has suffered from phantom limb pain for several years. She visits a neurologist, who proposes trying a therapeutic treatment developed by Vilayanur Ramachandran. Karen is surprised that this simple treatment uses:
A) a bucket of ice and a bucket of warm water.
B) a mirror.
C) mental visualization and guided meditation.
D) acupuncture needles.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Vilayanur Ramachandran developed a therapeutic treatment called mirror therapy for phantom limb pain. This treatment uses a mirror to create the illusion that the missing limb is still present, which helps to alleviate the pain. The patient places their intact limb behind a mirror and positions it so that it looks like the missing limb is being reflected in the mirror. This creates a visual feedback loop that can help the brain "re-wire" itself and reduce the intensity of phantom limb pain.

Karen Has Suffered from Phantom Limb Pain for Several Years