What is it complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)? It is a chronic pain condition that most. It is commonly affects a limb (arm, hand, leg or foot) typically after an injury. CRPS can develop after an injury, surgery, stroke or heart attack, but the pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury.
The cause of complex regional pain syndrome isn’t clearly understood, but it’s generally thought to be the result of the body reacting abnormally to an injury. For example, injury is thought to cause damage or malfunction of the peripheral and central nervous systems. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and spinal cord; the peripheral nervous system involves nerve signalling from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.
CRPS can begin at any age, including in children. Although, the average age for symptoms to start is thought to be around 50. Women make up around 3 out of 4 cases of CRPS.
Living with chronic pain such as CRPS can become an emotional strain and can lead to psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. If you feel your mood and psychological well-being is being affected by your symptoms see you GP for advice and support.
Receiving appropriate treatment and care for CRPS is very important to aid in a timely recovery. Trained healthcare providers can help treat however, there are some simple tips you can do to optimise your mental and physical health while dealing with CRPS.
If you are experiencing symptoms related to CRPS our physiotherapists can assess and help treat your pain, and guide you through a tailored treatment plan. Contact us here if you would like to make an appointment.