Phantom Limb Pain Reduction
Mirror Box Video
Mirror box therapy developed by neurologist V.S. Ramachandran. Demonstrated by Andrew T. Austin, NLP Master Practitioner.
Phantom limb pain occurs for at least 90% of limb amputees and can be excruciating, interfering with all aspects of life. Following amputation, the amputee may continue to feel sensations from the missing limb. This suggests limb perceptions may be hard wired in the brain, contributing to sensations of pain that last long after limb loss.
Mirror therapy, developed by the eminent neurologist, V.S. Ramachandran and successfully trialed by Dr. Jack Tsao at Walter Reed Hospital, is a low-cost means to reduce or eliminate on-going pain for landmine and war victims, as well as those affected by accident and disease, around the world.
"The mirror treatment targets the deranged sensor system itself. It essentially takes a misfiring sensor warning system functioning under an illusion that something is terribly wrong out in the world it monitors and feeds it an alternate set of signals that calm it down. The new signals may even reset the sensor". --Dr. Atul Gawande The Itch, New Yorker Magazine June 30,2008.
Inspired by this compelling information, End The Pain Project goals are twofold:
Goal One is to offer the ETPP Toolkit, free for the asking, to all amputees suffering phantom limb pain as well as their caregivers.
Goal Two is to deliver low cost, non-invasive phantom limb pain reduction interventions and related information to rural villages in countries affected by landmines and war. ETPP trains and supports small grassroots teams to educate and administer these programs.
Based upon recent breakthroughs in brain research, the ETPP ToolKit is a freely offered resource, a pdf compilation of article links, mirror therapy video links, mirror box construction instructions and self-hypnosis scripts for low-cost, non-invasive elimination or reduction of phantom limb pain.
By committing to consistent, active participation for approximately four to five weeks, you will be joining an expanding group of amputees experiencing reduction or elimination of phantom limb pain.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Any donation, no matter how small, helps to maintain our organizational autonomy and provide our small staff with the means to carry out needed non-invasive intervention projects. Our first pilot projects are focused on Bosnia, Laos and Vietnam.
Your thoughtful gift will help to reduce or eliminate debilitating phantom limb pain, restoring amputees in developing countries to productive living. Join the growing numbers who support the End The Pain Project.
Thank you for your generosity.
Examples of Mirror Therapy in use with phantom limb arms and legs.
