I received intermittent hand therapy from my HMO, which was stopped abruptly.

Learned some techniques to try to get fingers to bend and move at my will.

Any sources that you can recommend for me to view and try to do on my own would be appreciated.

Pain mostly gone although fingers feel like tight band around middle of digits.
Have gotten increased feelings in finger tips although they are sensitive to touch as well.

Grateful for this site!!

Hi Dena,
My neurologist gave me prednisone for a short while which helped bring swelling down and get my fingers to bend a little. And my pm dr told me to ask pt to give me a putty ball to exercise my fingers. Also picking up marbles one at a time with fingers helps a little too. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.
Take Care.

There is a group called the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute (NOI) that operates out of Australia. It’s run by a number of researchers who focus heavily on CRPS. They have developed a program called graded motor imagery that seems to show some promise (especially for people with unilateral CRPS) and it involves activities that are pretty easily done at home. The idea behind it is to help to reconnect your brain two your hand through a series of exercises.

At one point In time I know somebody on this forum posted regarding their girlfriend who had used it, with great success. My daughter has begun using it, with moderate success.

Here's a link to their website and some suggestions of things to look at: http://www.noigroup.com/en/Home

• In the upper right hand corner of the home page, you can click on “graded motor imagery,” and find information about their program. There is an app you can buy called “Recognise” that is basically a series of flashcards designed to get you reacquaint you with your hand, so you can have more control over it. If you don’t have a device that can use the app, you can pay for an online subscription (I don’t think it’s very expensive) and do it on your computer. There are also hard copy flashcards you can buy, but those are the most expensive (partially because they have to be shipped in from Australia where the research group is based). The flashcards are the first step in a graded motor imagery program, which eventually leads to mirror therapy, which I think a lot of people have already heard of. The researchers have found that mirror therapy can be more affective if it is preceded by the flashcards and some other exercises.

• Also on their site, you can look at Explain pain by Lorimer Mosely and David butler –this is their book that explains their philosophy: http://www.noigroup.com/en/Category/EP


Good luck!