Physical Therapy for CRPS
Complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS, is a chronic condition involving an injury that causes intense pain that is not in proportion to the injury it is related to. The pain gets worse over time and is most common in the hands, feet, arms and legs. The color and temperature of the affected area can change dramatically, and there may be swelling. There is no known cause for this condition, and currently no cure. However, physical therapy can help you learn techniques to manage this condition.
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Desensitization Techniques
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Your physical therapist will use techniques to try to create a more normal response of the sympathetic nervous system in the affected area. This involves touching the area with very gentle stimulus and gradually working up to stronger stimulus to try to calm your nervous system responses to touch.
Exercise
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Your physical therapist will work with you to develop a gentle and appropriate movement therapy program. It is common to not want to move a painful area. However, this leads to the muscles becoming deconditioned, which in turn will lead to more pain. Learning to move correctly will help to control your symptoms.
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Pacing Activity
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When you have complex regional pain syndrome, any type of movement will cause anxiety and fear about creating more pain. Your physical therapist will teach you how to take breaks and pace activity. You will learn relaxation techniques that will help you to calm the activity of your nervous system in between activities, to help lessen the pain.
Modalities
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Your physical therapist will use modalities to help manage the pain and allow you to exercise and stretch. This includes TENS units, hot and cold baths, techniques to reduce edema and acupressure.
Skills for Daily Life
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With complex regional pain syndrome, simple everyday tasks are challenging. Your physical therapist will work with you to teach you how to shower, brush your teeth, lift groceries and other general activities.
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