Typically, pain experienced by an amputee in the amputated limb(s) is called 'phantom limb' pain. It is most commonly viewed as an epiphenomenon or by-product of the brain's operations, or as an 'incorrect' operation of the brain. The amputee is told by caregivers that the pain he or she experiences is not 'real,' that it is merely a 'trick' of the brain, a psychosomatic disorder or sorts. Psychological (and medical) caregivers stress the need to accept that the limb is 'gone,' and that the pain and sensation the patient experiences is somehow false.
Yet the patient feels a limb, experiences something quite real, in spite of what an endless series of doctors and therapists, psychiatrists and bodyworkers might say. Who is to be believed? Obviously, a physical limb is not present; it cannot be counted on to perform work in the physical world. Yet just as obviously, the limb is present in the energetic and experiential worlds, the worlds where we primarily live.
Up to now, most care has ignored the patient's experiences, sensations, pain, and calls for help. They have tried to convince him (or her) that what they feel is wrong, and that with time (and plenty of expensive therapy) it will eventually (hopefully) go away. No direct care is given to the missing appendage (or phantom limb- a term that reduces it to an ephemeral mist of the imagination), instead it is focused on getting the brain to think and feel what it does not, and focusing attention and care on the 'remaining' limbs, while pointedly ignoring signals and sensations from the 'missing' one.
This is a natural result of a paradigm of pseudo-empiricism; pseudo because it is not based on true empirical knowledge throughout the range of possibly verifiable perception, but limited only to what can be seen or directly measured. Thus, since the limb cannot be seen, it is not there. This matches well with the western medical view of the body, which sees the body as merely a physical machine (of incredible complexity, but still a mere physical entity performing merely physical functions). This view does not explain the well-known phenomenon of sensation in missing limbs, except perhaps with vague guesses at possibly malfunctioning nervous system or brain.
The Ayurvedic concept of the body (much older than that of western medicine, which is relatively new) easily explains these phenomena; the body is more than merely a physical envelope. It (the physical body that western medicine insists is the only one) coexists simultaneously with an energetic body. When the physical limb is amputated, the energetic body is unharmed, and remains complete. At the interface between the physical and energetic bodies (the consciousness), the presence of the energetic limb is still experienced, even though the physical limb may appear to be 'missing.'
The incongruence between the physical and energetic bodies can be felt as sensations ranging from mild tingling to severe pain. The pain originates from the energetic body, which while undamaged, has disrupted flows of energy, which the brain (and consciousness; two separate things) interpret as pain. The solution is not to ignore the pain, or try to convince the patient that the pain does not really exist, or that it is merely a trick of the brain; it is to treat the symptoms the patient brings to us, not only on the superficial level, but at the root cause of the symptoms. This cannot be accomplished with a limited understanding of the human body, one which ignores obvious realities, or tries to explain them away as epiphenomena or not yet understood functions (or malfunctions) of the brain and nervous system.
Thus, I would suggest that healing of phantom limb pain starts first with an acknowledgement of its reality, both to the patient and medically, in the energetic body. This validation of what the patient experiences as reality can be immensely healing in itself, when the patient is simply being understood and not doubted or seen as someone suffering from a 'condition.'
The next step in care does not come from outside, but from within the patient, as they come to terms with the reality of the missing physical limb and the presence of the energetic limb. As they learn gentle acceptance, they can begin to send good thoughts, energy, and intentions to the limb. This healing intent and response needs to be sent there just like we send it elsewhere in our bodies when we are sick or hurt.
Eventually (once the patient has resolved the apparent incongruity and it has been determined by their psychiatric care professionals that the imagery will not be counterproductive), the patient can begin to cradle the missing limb, stroking it and holding it close just like they would for a wounded physical limb. This helps resolve the incongruity within the brain and also within the perception, and focuses healing intent on the limb.
Once the patient has mourned and accepted the loss of the physical limb, and once they have accepted with gratitude the presence of the energetic limb, they can begin to exercise it, to regain control over it. By moving the limb with mindful intention and clear visualization, they can begin to move energy through the energetic limb, eventually restoring the disrupted energy flow channels.
The combination of awareness of the energetic limb, focusing of healing intent and mindful control of the limb add synergistically to effect a restoral of energetic function and relief of 'phantom' pain. For like all phantoms, with observation in the clear light of perception, they melt away. As the patient's caregiver team becomes more aware of the existence of the energetic body and its implications in healing, they can begin to address the issue head-on, as a synchronized team.
Bodyworkers can perform work on the 'missing' limb, doctors can educate the patient about it and treat it (as nearly as possible) as they would a 'real' limb. Yoga instructors can cue the patient to use the missing limb energetically and intentionally, and physical therapists can use the visualization of a concerted action by existing physical and energetic bodies to improve performance (and healing) on the physical level. Most importantly, the patients can become part of a therapeutic alliance, between the caregivers and themselves, and aimed at the healing, recovery and integration of the entire body, not just the one that can be seen in the examination room.
AUM, Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi
Yet the patient feels a limb, experiences something quite real, in spite of what an endless series of doctors and therapists, psychiatrists and bodyworkers might say. Who is to be believed? Obviously, a physical limb is not present; it cannot be counted on to perform work in the physical world. Yet just as obviously, the limb is present in the energetic and experiential worlds, the worlds where we primarily live.
Up to now, most care has ignored the patient's experiences, sensations, pain, and calls for help. They have tried to convince him (or her) that what they feel is wrong, and that with time (and plenty of expensive therapy) it will eventually (hopefully) go away. No direct care is given to the missing appendage (or phantom limb- a term that reduces it to an ephemeral mist of the imagination), instead it is focused on getting the brain to think and feel what it does not, and focusing attention and care on the 'remaining' limbs, while pointedly ignoring signals and sensations from the 'missing' one.
This is a natural result of a paradigm of pseudo-empiricism; pseudo because it is not based on true empirical knowledge throughout the range of possibly verifiable perception, but limited only to what can be seen or directly measured. Thus, since the limb cannot be seen, it is not there. This matches well with the western medical view of the body, which sees the body as merely a physical machine (of incredible complexity, but still a mere physical entity performing merely physical functions). This view does not explain the well-known phenomenon of sensation in missing limbs, except perhaps with vague guesses at possibly malfunctioning nervous system or brain.
The Ayurvedic concept of the body (much older than that of western medicine, which is relatively new) easily explains these phenomena; the body is more than merely a physical envelope. It (the physical body that western medicine insists is the only one) coexists simultaneously with an energetic body. When the physical limb is amputated, the energetic body is unharmed, and remains complete. At the interface between the physical and energetic bodies (the consciousness), the presence of the energetic limb is still experienced, even though the physical limb may appear to be 'missing.'
The incongruence between the physical and energetic bodies can be felt as sensations ranging from mild tingling to severe pain. The pain originates from the energetic body, which while undamaged, has disrupted flows of energy, which the brain (and consciousness; two separate things) interpret as pain. The solution is not to ignore the pain, or try to convince the patient that the pain does not really exist, or that it is merely a trick of the brain; it is to treat the symptoms the patient brings to us, not only on the superficial level, but at the root cause of the symptoms. This cannot be accomplished with a limited understanding of the human body, one which ignores obvious realities, or tries to explain them away as epiphenomena or not yet understood functions (or malfunctions) of the brain and nervous system.
Thus, I would suggest that healing of phantom limb pain starts first with an acknowledgement of its reality, both to the patient and medically, in the energetic body. This validation of what the patient experiences as reality can be immensely healing in itself, when the patient is simply being understood and not doubted or seen as someone suffering from a 'condition.'
The next step in care does not come from outside, but from within the patient, as they come to terms with the reality of the missing physical limb and the presence of the energetic limb. As they learn gentle acceptance, they can begin to send good thoughts, energy, and intentions to the limb. This healing intent and response needs to be sent there just like we send it elsewhere in our bodies when we are sick or hurt.
Eventually (once the patient has resolved the apparent incongruity and it has been determined by their psychiatric care professionals that the imagery will not be counterproductive), the patient can begin to cradle the missing limb, stroking it and holding it close just like they would for a wounded physical limb. This helps resolve the incongruity within the brain and also within the perception, and focuses healing intent on the limb.
Once the patient has mourned and accepted the loss of the physical limb, and once they have accepted with gratitude the presence of the energetic limb, they can begin to exercise it, to regain control over it. By moving the limb with mindful intention and clear visualization, they can begin to move energy through the energetic limb, eventually restoring the disrupted energy flow channels.
The combination of awareness of the energetic limb, focusing of healing intent and mindful control of the limb add synergistically to effect a restoral of energetic function and relief of 'phantom' pain. For like all phantoms, with observation in the clear light of perception, they melt away. As the patient's caregiver team becomes more aware of the existence of the energetic body and its implications in healing, they can begin to address the issue head-on, as a synchronized team.
Bodyworkers can perform work on the 'missing' limb, doctors can educate the patient about it and treat it (as nearly as possible) as they would a 'real' limb. Yoga instructors can cue the patient to use the missing limb energetically and intentionally, and physical therapists can use the visualization of a concerted action by existing physical and energetic bodies to improve performance (and healing) on the physical level. Most importantly, the patients can become part of a therapeutic alliance, between the caregivers and themselves, and aimed at the healing, recovery and integration of the entire body, not just the one that can be seen in the examination room.
AUM, Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi
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