Raccoon causes phantom pain
A woman in Ohio had most of her arm amputated this summer after getting bit by a raccoon. Melissa Loomis had groundbreaking surgery after losing most of arm to rabid raccoon bite. After 16 hours, doctors had the challenge of rearranging the nerves in what’s left of Melissa’s right arm. By doing this procedure, they’ll eventually be able to fit her for a prosthetic arm that’s so advanced, she’ll be able to feel it and control it with her mind. He said the surgery will eliminate the phantom pain she was feeling. Occupational, massage and scar tissue therapy will all help flexing the muscles. Phantom limb sensation is the term given to any sensory phenomenon which is felt at an absent limb or a portion of the limb. It has been known that at least 80% of amputees experience phantom sensations in their lives. Some experience some level of this phantom pain and feeling in the missing limb for the rest of their lives.
http://www.delta-optimist.com/opinion/blogs/deltabc-1.983313/blog-raccoon-causes-phantom-pain-1.2135392
