Effectiveness of inpatient interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT) in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) A retrospective study

Background The primary symptom of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is pain. Interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT) is the gold standard of treatment. The purpose of this study was to identify the beneficial effect of inpatient IMPT on pain level, sensation, perception and impairment in patients with CRPS. Question The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of full-term IMPT on pain intensity, pain perception, pain processing, and pain impairment in patients with CRPS. Methods In 265 patients with CRPS, pain level was retrospectively assessed by the numeric rating scale for pain (NRS), the Pain Perception Scale (SES) and the Pain Management Questionnaire (FESV) at the beginning and end of IMPT. Results There was a significant reduction in the average and highest pain level on the NRS, a significant improvement in the affective experience of pain and cognitive pain management, as well as pain-related mental impairment. All patients improved significantly in resting and relaxation techniques. With regard to pain-related helplessness and depression, patients with mental comorbidity benefitted most. Patients undergoing invasive procedures in the form of peripheral nerve blockage showed no significantly improved outcome with regard to the tested parameters. Discussion The current study demonstrated that IMPT has a highly beneficial effect on the level, experience and processing of pain in patients with CRPS.