Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Individuals experiencing CRPS may have the following symptoms:

• Continuous burning or throbbing pain, usually in your arm, leg, hand or foot
• Sensitivity to touch or cold
• Swelling of the painful area
• Changes in skin temperature — alternating between sweaty and cold
• Changes in skin color, ranging from white and mottled to red or blue
• Changes in skin texture, which may become tender, thin or shiny in the affected area
• Changes in hair and nail growth
• Joint stiffness, swelling and damage
• Muscle spasms, tremors, weakness and loss (atrophy)
• Decreased ability to move the affected body part

OT intervention in this population may include:

• Collaboration with interdisciplinary team (MD, surgeon, pain management specialists)
• Intervention to improve range of motion
• desensitization
• Edema management
• promotion of normal positioning and decreased muscle guarding
• ADL training and intervention targeting functional use of the extremity
• Mirror box therapy
• Graded motor imagery
• Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS)