Supernumerary phantom limb
Supernumerary Phantom Limb
Supernumerary Phantom Limb (pronunciation: soo-per-noo-muh-rer-ee fan-tuhm limb) is a rare neurological phenomenon where an individual perceives one or more additional limbs that are not physically present.
Etymology
The term "Supernumerary" is derived from the Latin word "supernumerarius", meaning "excessive in number". "Phantom" comes from the Greek word "phantasma", meaning "appearance" or "illusion". "Limb" is derived from the Old English word "lim", meaning "branch". Thus, the term "Supernumerary Phantom Limb" refers to the illusion of having an excessive number of limbs.
Definition
A Supernumerary Phantom Limb is a type of Phantom Limb Syndrome, a condition in which patients experience sensations, whether painful or otherwise, in a limb that does not exist. Unlike Phantom Limb Syndrome, where the phantom limb replaces a lost physical limb, a Supernumerary Phantom Limb is an additional limb that the patient perceives, despite no limb being lost.
Causes
The exact cause of Supernumerary Phantom Limb is unknown. However, it is often associated with brain damage, particularly to the Right Parietal Lobe or Thalamus. It has also been linked to Stroke and Epilepsy.
Related Terms
Treatment
Treatment for Supernumerary Phantom Limb is largely symptomatic and may include Pharmacotherapy, Physical Therapy, and Psychotherapy. In some cases, Mirror Therapy has been found to be effective.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Supernumerary phantom limb
- Wikipedia's article - Supernumerary phantom limb
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski