Where Does it Hurt?

COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS, is a chronic disease characterized by severe pain, swelling and changes in the skin. There are two primary types of CRPS.

o Type 1 includes diseases that do not have demonstrable nerve damage such as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), Sudek's Atrophy, Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy (RND), and Algoneurodystrophy.
o Type 2 has evidence of obvious nerve damage such as Causalgia or Phantom Limb (post amputation).

The cause of CRPS is currently unknown. Some common precipitating factors include: injury and/or surgery although there are documented cases where no injury to the original site is apparent and onset occurs.

Symptoms vary in with each patient but commonly include:

Burning pain in arm, leg, hand or foot
Skin sensitivity (particularly to touch and to cold)
Changes in skin temperature color and texture. At times, skin may be sweaty; at other times it may be cold. Skin color can range from white and mottled to red or blue. Skin may become tender, thin or shiny in this area.
Changes in hair and nail growth
Joint stiffness, swelling and damage
Muscle spasms, weakness and loss (atrophy)
Decreased ability to move the affected body part

CRPS can strike at any age but the average age of diagnosis is 42. Women are 3 times more likely than men to be affected. It is estimated that between 2 and 5 people with peripheral nerve injury and 13 to 70% of those with hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) will suffer from CRPS.

If a patient is experiencing severe pain, swelling and sensitivity with minimal to severe injury (such as a broken bone), the patient should be tested for CRPS. Seeing a Pain Management Specialist is appropriate. The sooner that Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is treated, the better the results.

PROCare Physical Therapy has been getting excellent results reducing or eliminating the pain experienced by patients with CRPS. Our highly skilled physical therapists will offer the patient the proper combination of Vertebral and Sympathetic Trunk Neural Mobilization, Desensitization Program, Vibration, AROM exercises, Vibration, Extremity Elevation, Compression and use of water/heat to name just a few options. The combination of these therapies will be properly determined by the Physical Therapist according to each patient's needs.