Peripheral Inputs

Theories in how the peripheral nervous system play a part in phantom limb pain have been numerous over the years. Many studies have shown multiple nerve sprouts in the residual limb occur and have random depolarizations (Carlson, 1994). Other PNS theories have included:

  1. Local factors like acids, bradykinins, and substance P (the pain substance)
  2. The expansion of receptive fields in the spinal cord after tissue injury
  3. Sympathetically (autonomic nervous system) maintained pain--reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
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