Researchers at the University of Manchester are turning to virtual reality once again, not to have another go 'round at proving whether telepathy is real or not, but to help individuals with amputated limbs recover from so-called "phantom limb pain, " a sensation wherein amputees appear to feel pain in their lost limb.

ENGADGET: Researchers turn to VR to treat phantom limb pain

However, simply witnessing pain was not enough to stimulate the pain centres that register the actual physical sensation of hurt.

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In the study, researchers used a questionnaire, called the Carolinas Comfort Scale, to assess quality of life with such questions as whether patients feel a "sensation of mesh" after surgery or pain or movement limitations during daily activities.

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Nana could not say which of these people, her husband or her best friend, was the most responsible for the pain she felt now, that kicked-in-the-ribs sensation.

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Conventional analgesics can do little to ease this burning sensation which seems to be similar to the phantom pain often suffered by amputees but some sufferers say that a joint at bedtime makes the difference between their sleeping and not doing so.

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