Phantom limb pain is primarily experienced by which group of patients?

Phantom limb pain is primarily experienced by patients who were experiencing pain prior to amputation. This phenomenon occurs because the brain retains memory and neural patterns associated with the limb that has been lost. When a person has pre-existing pain in a limb before its removal, the neural pathways related to that pain can become ingrained. Following amputation, these pathways may still be activated, leading to the sensation of pain from the missing limb, which is characteristic of phantom limb pain.

Understanding this concept illustrates the importance of pre-operative pain management and psychological support for patients facing amputation. It emphasizes that those who had pain leading up to the loss of the limb might be more susceptible to experiencing phantom limb sensations post-surgery, which significantly impacts their rehabilitation and quality of life.