Abstract
There are no established treatments effective for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The pain in CRPS is rather persistent. Patients with CRPS of the upper limbs tend to have persistent pain, with resultant impaired daily living. We assessed clinical courses and degree of patients' satisfaction with treatments in 44 subjects with CRPS of the upper limb(s) who were treated at our department in the past 10 years. A questionnaire was sent to each patient who did not visit our department at the time of the present study. Patients who were being treated at the time of this study were directly evaluated. Twenty-two patients responded (response rate, 50%). Twenty patients still had pain, and two did not have pain. The patients were divided into two groups according to the level of satisfaction: satisfied and non-satisfied groups. Although there was no difference in the degree of pain or level of quality of life between the groups, the non-satisfied group was significantly older and more depressed. Supportive and psychological therapies should be adopted to improve patients' satisfaction and reduce pain behaviors for the treatment of CRPS of the upper limbs in elderly patients.
