The E3 Rehab Podcast 138. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) w/ Brittany Kim
Mar 5, 2024
Brittany Kim, a physical therapist specializing in CRPS and interdisciplinary pain care, outlines CRPS diagnosis and rehab strategies. She covers key symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and common triggers. Expect practical guidance on graded motor imagery, mirror therapy, pacing, managing flares, differential diagnoses, and how to time rehab with medical treatments.
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Risk Factors And Typical Triggers
- CRPS is more common in females and often follows minor injuries like wrist fractures, but can occur after trivial trauma or spontaneously.
- Genetic and autoimmune factors can predispose individuals and influence prognosis.
Always Exclude Red-Flag Medical Causes
- Rule out urgent medical causes (DVT, infection) and communicate findings with the referring physician immediately.
- Advocate for additional workup rather than assuming CRPS when red flags or localized patterns suggest other diagnoses.
Use Story-Based, Bite-Sized Education
- Tailor education to the patient's knowledge and use their story to explain concepts like allodynia and neuroimmune drivers.
- Explain prognosis honestly: remission is possible but recurrence can happen after new injuries.