What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a broad term that covers long-lasting pain and inflammation that occurs after an injury. It can also occur after a medical event or trauma.
Usually it affects a person’s arm, leg, hand or foot and usually occurs from trauma. Commonly CRPS occurs after a fracture, surgery, sprains/strains or being in a cast.
There is no specific test for CRPS and usually it is diagnosed by a neurologist or specialist doctor.
There are two sub-types of CRPS. CRPS-1 occurs after illness or injury and is not associated with specific nerve damage. CRPS-2 is associated with damage to a specific nerve.
Symptoms
The symptoms of CRPS vary from person to person:
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Sudden pain that can be constant or may change with activity
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Excessive or long lasting pain after use of contact that can be deemed disproportionate
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Changes in skin temperature, skin colour or swelling of the affected limb
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Changes in skin temperature
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Sweating, nail growth or hair growth on the affected limb
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Impaired muscle strength
Treatment options
Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiologists are well placed to assist people with a diagnosis of CRPS. They specialise in active, exercise based management to help you work towards your goals in the presence of your pain and can assist in using exercise as a therapeutic modality to ease symptoms. Staying moving is an important part of managing CRPS for your long-term function.