Abbreviation for 'complex regional pain syndrome', CRPS is a syndrome of excessive pain following injury or surgery to the knee, where the pain is accompanied by skin colour and temperature changes and problems with regaining range of motion of the limb.
CRPS is a significant complication
The really important issue in CRPS is to recognise it, and not to think that the person is exhibiting an hysterical reaction to what appears to be a fairly minor injury or surgery. If the condition is recognised early, then gentle sensible physiotherapy techniques will often break the cycle of pain, swelling, mottling, inactivity, more pain, more swelling, etcetera. The patient may need a lot of reassurance that there is a nerve reflex involved and that therapy will focus upon breaking this reflex cycle.
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