4.1.3 Phantom Limb Pain
Phantom limb pain (PLB) is a painful experience interpreted by patients
after a limb amputation with few viable treatment
options.78 The causes of PLB are currently unclear,
but it is hypothesized to result from the disruption of ascending and
descending pain pathways that reorganize improperly, leading to an
ongoing misinterpreted pain perception. LSD has been previously
suggested as a possible treatment for PLB. Small case series
demonstrated that intravenous infusion or bolus injection of LSD (10
ng/mL at 0.5 ml/min) was “curative” in two patients, “partially
helpful” in three, and “ineffective” in two (although measurement and
definition of benefit were not systematically
described).79 An additional study found significant
benefits of LSD for PLB, with sustained self-reported pain reduction in
seven out of eight participants.80