Background & Aims
Severe pain, edema, temperature and color changes in the affected areas of the skin, motor and sensory impairments, and trophic alterations are the hallmarks of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Research has indicated that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy is efficacious in managing acute musculoskeletal pain, controlling pain following surgery, and treating musculoskeletal illnesses such persistent low back and neck discomfort. Nevertheless, there is not enough proof to support TENS efficacy in treating CRPS Type I.
so objective of this study was to investigate whether transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) improves Pain and functional outcomes for patients suffering from Type I complex regional pain syndrome in Upper Extremity .
Methods
The study included 32 patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type I in the upper extremities. The CRPS diagnosis was made in accordance with the International Association for Study of Pain (IASP) consensus statement. Exclusion criteria were as follows: 1) peripheral nerve injury; 2) coexisting conditions, such as diabetic neuropathy, that may result in neuropathic pain; 3) presence of a chronic pain syndrome (e.g. fibromyalgia, phantom pain, rheumatoid arthritis); 4) any disruption of skin and extremity integrity such as burns, 5) any previous treatment for CRPS. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: group 1 (n = 16) underwent 20 minutes of traditional TENS treatment, while group 2 (n = 16) underwent 20 minutes of sham TENS treatment. The standard physical therapy program, which included range of motion exercises, a stretching exercises up to the pain threshold, was also conducted in both groups.
Results
The assessment of spontaneous pain was done using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Neuropathic pain was evaluated using the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Signs and Symptoms (LANSS) scale. A goniometer was used to quantify range of motion (ROM), and volumetric measurements were made to evaluate edema. The Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) and a hand dynamometer were used to evaluate functional capacity. Every measurement was taken both before and after treatment. The independent sample t- and Mann-Whitney tests were used in the analysis of quantitative data. Both groups’ edema, range of motion, functional ability, and scores for neuropathic and spontaneous pain all showed significant improvements (p < 0.05). But when it came to pain intensity and functional ability, group 1 showed noticeably more improvement.
Conclusions
In patients with CRPS Type 1, the inclusion of TENS in the physical therapy regimen was found to significantly aid in their clinical recovery.
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Presenting Author
Amrit Kaur
Poster Authors
Topics
- Specific Pain Conditions/Pain in Specific Populations: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)