Peer-To-Peer Amputee Program Launches in Vietnam

Pham Qui Thi, Ban Advocate, presenting peer-to-peer Mirror Therapy with upper limb amputees

 With a donation of 20 table-top mirrors, ETPP ToolKits translated into Vietnamese and pain scales from End The Pain Project as well as the joint sponsorship of Handicap International and Project Renew, a mirror therapy workshop for twenty amputees in Hai Lang district, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam was kicked off on December 18, 2014.

Cluster munitions survivor Pham Quy Thi presented the concept of mirror therapy at home, followed by an actual mirror therapy session that lasted for 20 minutes supported by Pham Quy Thi and Nguyen Thanh Phu of the Project Renew Mine Action Visitor Center.

The participants were divided into two groups, one with leg amputations, the other with arm amputations.

 four out of the five upper limb amputee participants had positive feedback. They can really feel their missing fingers moving exactly like what existed before.

Lower limb amputee concentrating on a reflection of his intact leg

A man whose leg was amputated, said  he really could see his missing leg in the mirror after many years, and felt as if he can walk with balance.

Only in one case, a woman reported that she could not feel anything.  Later, she said that she misunderstood what the team had told her. Instead of concentrating on the reflected image of her leg, she just looked at her intact leg. It was concluded that this was the reason why,she did not get any reaction during the session.

Participants of the Mirror Therapy Workshop with instructors Mr. Nguyen and Mr. Pham

All the participants were very happy and and committed to following mirror therapy sessions  at home for one month.

Vietnamese Amputee Demonstrates Effective Mirror Therapy at 5th Annual Cluster Munitions Convention in Costa Rica September 5, 2014

Credit: Thao Griffiths

Pham Quy Thi who lost his right hand and part of his right arm to a hidden landmine explosion, made the long journey from Vietnam to the Costa Rican Cluster Munitions Convention to demonstrate the use of ETPP Mirror Therapy as a means to diminish or end Phantom Limb Pain for amputees. Mr. Pham traveled under the auspices of Project Renew, Dong Ha, Quang Tri, Vietnam.  

Credit: Thao Griffiths

Mr. Pham's demonstration totally captivated the attention of the Meeting of States delegates who attended his side event at the Convention on September 5, 2014. For further information about Mr. Pham shedding 36 years of Phantom Limb Pain through Mirror Therapy, please refer to the blog of December 5, 2013.

Table-Top Mirror now available from ETPP for hand/arm amputees suffering Phantom Limb Pain

ETPP Table-Top Mirror in use

A Table-Top Mirror for Mirror Therapy use by hand/arm amputees suffering Phantom Limb Pain, has been designed and developed by Marty Moser, an End The Pain Project associate.  The easy-to-setup, portable Table-Top Mirror which measures 10"x13" when folded for storage, is constructed of sturdy but lightweight white cardboard and unbreakable acrylic mirror.

Priced at $20 + $6 postage, the Table-Top Mirror can be ordered through End The Pain Project.  Net proceeds fund mirrors for amputees in third world countries.