Physiotherapy for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in Buckinghamshire
Published
Local Physiotherapist — Hayley Netley, Buckinghamshire
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is one of the most misunderstood pain conditions there is. The limb hurts far out of proportion to any injury, it may look swollen, discoloured or feel unbearable to touch, and ordinary advice to “keep using it” can feel impossible. Physiotherapy is central to CRPS management — but it has to be the right kind, delivered at the right pace.
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What CRPS is
CRPS usually develops after an injury, a fracture or an operation — sometimes a fairly minor one. The pain that follows is far more severe and long-lasting than the original injury would explain, and it is often accompanied by changes in the limb: swelling, colour and temperature changes, sweating, altered hair or nail growth, stiffness, weakness, and skin that is exquisitely sensitive to light touch or cold.
It is a genuine condition involving changes in how the nervous system processes signals from the limb. It is not imagined, and it is not a sign that you are handling pain badly.
Why specialist input matters
CRPS does not respond to the standard "stretch it and strengthen it" approach, and pushing into severe pain can make things worse. Equally, resting the limb completely allows it to become stiffer, weaker and more sensitive. The path between those two is narrow, and it is much easier to find with a physiotherapist who has been trained in the condition and has worked with it before.
Hayley completed specialist postgraduate training in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome with Professor Helen Cohen, one of the UK's leading clinicians in the field, and works with CRPS as part of her NHS pain and rehabilitation caseload. She was awarded the Max Zusman Award for her work in advanced pain management during her MSc.
What CRPS physiotherapy at home may involve
- Understanding the condition: a clear explanation of why the limb behaves as it does, which by itself often reduces fear and pain
- Desensitisation: graded exposure to touch, texture and temperature to reduce hypersensitivity
- Graded motor imagery: staged techniques such as laterality work, imagined movement and mirror therapy, used where appropriate
- Gentle, graded movement: restoring movement and normal use of the limb in steps you can tolerate
- Functional goals: working towards the everyday tasks that matter to you, rather than exercises for their own sake
- Flare management and pacing: so setbacks do not undo your progress
Working alongside your other care
CRPS is best managed by a team. Home physiotherapy sits alongside your GP, pain consultant, occupational therapy and psychology input where you have it, and Hayley has extensive multidisciplinary experience working in exactly those teams. She will be clear about what physiotherapy can offer and will recommend onward referral when that is the right step.
Why home visits are especially useful in CRPS
When a limb is hypersensitive, the journey to a clinic can be the worst part of the day — a car journey, a cold waiting room, a crowded corridor and the risk of the limb being knocked. Being seen at home removes all of that, and means the desensitisation and functional work happen in the place where you actually need to use the limb.
CRPS physiotherapy across Buckinghamshire
Hayley supports people with CRPS at home across Buckinghamshire, including High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Amersham, Milton Keynes and surrounding towns. See also managing persistent pain at home.
Frequently asked questions
Is physiotherapy safe if I have CRPS?
Yes, when it is graded appropriately. The aim is never to force movement through severe pain, but to rebuild tolerance in steps small enough that your nervous system accepts them. Hayley sets the starting point with you and adjusts it as you go.
Do I need a CRPS diagnosis to be seen?
No. If you have unexplained, disproportionate pain after an injury or operation, an assessment is still worthwhile. Hayley can advise on what to discuss with your GP or consultant if a formal diagnosis or pain clinic referral would help.
What is graded motor imagery?
It is a staged approach used in CRPS that works on how the brain represents the painful limb - typically starting with recognising left and right images, then imagined movement, then mirror therapy - before progressing to actual movement. It is used where it is appropriate for your presentation.
Can you work with my pain clinic or consultant?
Yes. Hayley has extensive multidisciplinary experience with pain consultants, rheumatology, orthopaedics, occupational therapy and psychology, and home physiotherapy is designed to complement the care you already have.
How to book with Hayley
If you would like to arrange a home visit, contact Hayley directly for a free, no-obligation phone call. She can talk through your situation, confirm whether home physiotherapy is appropriate, and agree the best first appointment for your needs.
- Phone: 07378 191 101
- Email: hayley.netley@gmail.com
- Please mention Mobile Physiotherapist.co.uk when you call
- Profile: View Hayley Netley's profile
About Hayley Netley
Hayley Netley is an HCPC registered specialist musculoskeletal and pain physiotherapist with 22 years' experience, providing home visit physiotherapy across Buckinghamshire. She works as a Band 7 Highly Specialist Physiotherapist in a pain and rehabilitation team, has completed specialist postgraduate training in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, and supports people whose pain has not responded to previous treatment.
Read Hayley's profile or contact her on 07378 191 101.
Please mention Mobile Physiotherapist.co.uk when you call.