Kira CRPS Story
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome typically affects an arm or leg and is more common in women than men. CRPS is a disorder of the central nervous system. It isn't known why injuries such as a sprained ankle, surgery or heart attack precede CRPS but it may be a dysfunction between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system that causes pain which is more intense and described differently to the preceding injury.
Member Story
My name is Kira, I'm 25. And standing beside me is Michael, 27. He's my brother, my best friend, and one of the main reasons I'm still here. We also both live with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) which is a malfunction of the central and peripheral nervous system. Mine started in 2013 in my right hand whilst practicing for my year 12 exams and it eventually spread up my arm... into my shoulder, neck, entire back, my hips, my right leg, left leg, my left arm, and even in my face during flare ups! My brother developed his after a work accident in 2017 - on Friday the 13th, on a full moon, with some heavy rain what a day! And while I wouldn't wish this on anyone, having my brother there beside me, knowing exactly how I feel, is comforting; we're both glad we're in this together and there to support the other.
Treatment:
CRPS is debilitating with a complex pathology making it difficult to treat and a condition which is often resistant to general medical approaches. CRPS generally requires a multi-faceted therapeutic approach. If it is diagnosed and treated early (within the first few months) the treatment can be effective. Analgesia is important and may include anti-inflammatory medication, paracetamol and opioid based products. Anti-depressants and anticonvulsants may also be used to assist with the pain.
Sympathetic nerve blocks (injections of an anaesthetic agent) into the affected nerves to stop the pain signals in the affected limb. There are other injectable therapies which may be trialled by the pain specialists.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy Desensitisation - "to hurt is not to harm". Over a period of time the person with CRPS will be encouraged to desensitise the affected limb so that the hypersensitivity and allodynia is reduced.
Graded motor imagery (GMI) combined with medical management is recognised as being effective in reducing pain in CRPS. GMI involves encouraging the person to differentiate between left and right limbs to re-establish right and left concepts in the brain. Progressively, a mirror box is introduced. The person is asked to watch the mirrored image of the unaffected limb moving in the mirror. Then, the person moves the affected limb in the mirror box while watching the mirrored image of the unaffected limb. This tricks the brain into thinking it is seeing the limb with CRPS moving without pain.