phantom limb pain
Also written as: PLP — Phantom Limb Pain
A painful sensation perceived as originating from an amputated or missing limb, commonly addressed in prosthetic and rehabilitation medicine programs.
Full Definition
Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a neuropathic pain condition experienced by the majority of amputees, characterised by sensations—often burning, cramping, or electric—perceived as coming from the absent limb. It is distinct from phantom limb sensation (non-painful awareness of the missing limb) and residual limb pain (pain at the stump itself), and editors must preserve these distinctions precisely in clinical documents. Management is addressed in rehabilitation through mirror therapy, graded motor imagery, and pharmacological strategies. PLP documentation appears in prosthetics, pain medicine, and neurological rehabilitation contexts. The term is written in lowercase and is not hyphenated except in attributive use ('phantom-limb-pain management protocol').
Usage
Usage note: Do not conflate with 'phantom limb sensation' (non-painful) or 'residual limb pain' (at the amputation site). Use 'residual limb' rather than 'stump' in contemporary clinical and editorial contexts, per person-first and professional conventions.
In Context
- "The patient reported phantom limb pain rated at 7/10 on the Numeric Rating Scale, localised to the absent foot." — Amputee rehabilitation assessment
- "The editor corrected 'stump pain' to 'residual limb pain' and flagged that 'phantom limb pain' was a distinct phenomenon requiring separate documentation." — Rehabilitation report copy-edit