Picking Apart Phantom Pain

The Real Mental Side of Phantom Pain Ok, let’s talk about Pain. Not just any pain, but the “real” phantom pain. It comes on without warning. It can destroy our mood, our productivity, and our confidence. When it does happen, and for amputees we will all have the pleasure of experiencing it at some point on our journey, it’s enough to cause us to doubt we will ever be able to function again because we can’t see an end to it in sight. It’s the most disabling thing about being an amputee because we cannot control it. Just two weekends ago I experienced one of my many episodes of phantom pain. I was fine when I woke on Sunday morning, enjoyed a few hours of “normalcy” then out of the blue, like lightning strikes, I was seized with a multitude of sharp, knife driving pains, in the bottom of my non-existent foot! At first it was just startling and I was wracking my brain as to why it might be acting up. You see, for me, I know what things might cause me to have a flair up of pains from the activities of the day or night before, but not this day. Nothing I could have done would prepare me for this nor could I comprehend what had made these phantom pains come on. As the day wore on these flashes of pain came more sudden and more often. They are so real feeling that my “foot” was getting sore from all the stabbing. The prickles on the cactus and thorns on the tree remind me of the sharpness of my phantom pains If that isn’t a mental attack on the brain I don’t know what is! If you are an amputee you need to make sure you have a toolbox of info and memories to use as you navigate throu9gh each episode of phantom pains. Join me today as I discuss what a toolbox is and how you create one. Remember to be kind to yourself when these pains hit. They will try to crush you and break your spirit but you can and will get stronger with each experience. Just know that it’s ok to shut down for a while as your head tries to understand what’s happening to your body. You are strong enough and you will make it through. These episodes don’t last forever, and you will soar once again. Be the warrior you were meant to be and rise up! And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!! much love,