Treating severe phantom limb pain by applying far infrared ray to ‘phantom limb’

A 64-year-old male suffered from severe phantom limb pain after an above-knee amputation due to chondrosarcoma in the left tibia. Severe throbbing pain began from the phantom toes, ankle, and up to the stump, followed by intense spasm. The pain even persisted for > 24 hours with a Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) of 9. Nine years of conservative medication has failed, including nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, morphine, and Tramadol HCl. Physical therapies have also been tried but in vain, such as planned walking in prosthesis and applying massage and warm hydropathy to the stump. The patient then