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Post by bluedogz on Sept 5, 2009 12:42:57 GMT -7
Hello all- This is a neat video I found of a piece by Dr. V. Ramachandran at UCLA, who is a neurologist who studies phantom pain among other things. It runs 28:00 and is worth it- so pour a drink or have a pee before you click on it. www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/vilayanur_ramachandran_on_your_mind.htmlI found his therapy really fascinating, as well as the idea that phantom sensation is "learned:', and thus can be unlearned. |
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Post by allenuk on Sept 6, 2009 6:35:37 GMT -7
I haven't watched it yet, bluedogz, but thanks for the link.
The amount of knowledge about the mind and body that exists in the eastern world is incredible, isn't it. And they were learning and practising all this stuff when we were living in holes and banging rocks together. Amazing.
A.
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Post by snowyh on Sept 6, 2009 7:01:13 GMT -7
Great video, Blue--thanks for the link. Dr. R's talk is in 3 parts (all fascinating), but the part about phantom pain runs from 9:20 to 17:45 in the video.
I highly recommend Dr. Ramachandran's book, Phantoms in the Brain (even if you don't have phantom pain). It's a real page-turner, and spent months on the NY Times Best Sellers list when it was first released.
Helen
PS--This thread maybe fits better in the Pain Management section?
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Post by bluedogz on Sept 7, 2009 7:15:47 GMT -7
I didn't think of that till after I posted it, Helen. Guess I could move it though...
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Post by cherylm on Sept 7, 2009 15:18:13 GMT -7
Fascinating video, Blue...thanks so much for posting the link! I was especially intrigued by the comment about the phantom pain patient having "phantom fingers" growing out of his shoulder...I have a phantom big toe, which is the only part of my phantom limb that remains. When I'm wearing my prosthesis, this "toe" seems to float down in my prosthetic foot, in the approximately correct position for a toe. When my leg is off, the "toe" feels like it's growing directly out the end of my stump. Fortunately, I feel very strongly that I have the ability to wiggle this toe...so when I experience a "cramp" in the "toe," I can work it out by doing "phantom wiggling." Isn't it amazing what our bodies/brains can do?
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Post by bluedogz on Sept 8, 2009 5:27:40 GMT -7
At the same time, I have a phantom wrist and hand that are broken all the time and I wish would go away. Thinking of building a mirror box like Dr. R said, just to see...
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Post by pyourke on Sept 22, 2009 13:54:01 GMT -7
Thought provoking... I've heard about the mirror effect but this explains how it might work. Now if they could just figure out how to use the mirror effect on a bilateral amputee... perhaps by using a friend? I wonder?
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