Abstract
[Purpose] We report the outcome of an early intervention with a tactile discrimination task for 2 patients with phantom limb pain related to superficial pain, after qualitative assessment. [Subjects] Two patients who experienced phantom limb pain related to superficial pain after amputation for diabetic gangrene. [Method] The 2 patients were asked to discriminate the region of tactile sensation when a cushion was held to the amputation stump. [Results] At the beginning of the discrimination task, the patients could not discriminate the region of tactile sensation accurately. However, after the discrimination task, the subjects could discriminate the region of tactile sensation, and the phantom limb pain improved. [Conclusion] This result shows the importance of an immediate decision regarding intervention, after the qualitative assessment of phantom limb pain.
