Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disorder which causes chronic widespread pain that is at a greater duration or magnitude than normal for a traumatic event. CRPS often develops 4-6 months after an incident such as an injury, stroke, burn, surgery, local infection, or frostbite. The cause of CRPS is not well understood, however it seems to be a multifactorial process involving alterations of nerve and brain functioning.
Signs and symptoms include sensory (often a “burning” pain), vasomotor (temperature and skin color asymmetry), motor (decreased motion), trophic (hair, skin, and nail), and limb perception/proprioception changes. Depending on the type of CRPS, type I/acute or type II/chronic, it may take more than a year for it to resolve.
The best way to approach CRPS is by creating a good network of healthcare professionals. Physical therapy can provide a means of managing or reducing symptoms. This includes the implementation of mirror therapy, graded motor imagery, tactile discrimination training, graded exposure therapy, and virtual reality.
If you have questions or concerns, contact the therapy team at ProActive Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine for help.
1.Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). [serial online]. n.d.;Available from: DynamedPlus, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 10, 2018.
2.Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Fact Sheet | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.NINDSnihgov. 2018. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Complex-Regional-Pain-Syndrome-Fact-Sheet. Accessed May 23, 2018.