Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist (CSRS) Practice Test

The most common type of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) found in stroke patients is Type I. This form of CRPS is characterized by the absence of identifiable nerve injury and typically manifests after a noxious event, such as a stroke, leading to pain, swelling, and changes in skin color and temperature in the affected limb.

In stroke patients, the brain's altered signaling can lead to the development of CRPS Type I even in the absence of direct nerve damage, focusing more on how the central nervous system interprets pain signals. This makes it prevalent among individuals who have endured strokes since the pain symptoms often arise without peripheral nerve injury.

On the other hand, Type II or causalgia, involves identifiable nerve injury and is less commonly seen within the stroke population. The mixed type refers to patients who may exhibit symptoms from both Type I and Type II, but it is not categorized as the most common. Acute type does not specifically align with the CRPS classification and typically refers to the duration of symptoms rather than a distinct category of CRPS.

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