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phantom limb pain

American  

noun

Pathology.
  1. a phenomenon characterized by the experience of pain, discomfort, or other sensation in the area of a missing limb or other body part, as a breast.


Etymology

Origin of phantom limb pain

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Neuropathic pain resulting from damage to the nervous system, such as stroke and phantom limb pain, often doesn't respond to available treatments and can significantly impair physical and emotional function and quality of life.

From Salon • May 24, 2023

He has grappled with ghostly sensations, similar to phantom limb pain, mysteries in texture and perception.

From New York Times • Jan. 11, 2022

Connecting brain, mind, and body, Ramachandran theorized that in cases of phantom limb pain, the brain could be tricked into thinking the limb was still there.

From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021

Zeidan, who is co-leading a study on psilocybin for phantom limb pain, would like to see “higher standards, more rigor” in this area of research.

From Scientific American • Sep. 30, 2021

Her patients wanted to tell her about feeling their lives were ruined now that their bodies were, their phantom limb pain, their fear of suffering and dying.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge