Phantom is a false sensation, an illusion of the presence of a lost body part. A distinction is made between phantom sensations (painless phantom), phantom pain and amputation pain. Up to 98% of patients soon after amputation experience sensations in the lost body part: they feel warmth or cold, itching, pressure and even feel the position of the phantom limb in space. Often these sensations are accompanied by excruciating pain, significantly reducing the quality of life of patients. Descriptions of Phantom have been recorded since the beginning of the 16th century and are based on the stories of people with amputated limbs or from the retellings of doctors, and caused skeptical disbelief in some specialists. The review considers descriptions of phantom limbs in autobiographical and fiction literature and analyzes them.
The web-site of this journal uses cookies to optimize its performance and design as well as special service to collect and analyze data about pages visitors. By continuing to browse this web-site you agree to use cookies and the above service.