The effect of adding calcitonin to physical treatment on reflex sympathetic dystrophy

Abstract

The efficacy of intranasal salmon calcitonin was examined in a double-blind randomized study in reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Sixty-six patients were randomly divided in two groups receiving physiotherapy. In addition group I also received 3 x 100 U/day of salmon calcitonin by intranasal spray whereas group II received 3 sprays of placebo. The pain and the range of motion were improved by calcitonin administration. Similarly the patients' ability to work was also improved. The results confirmed that salmon calcitonin has an effect but that this effect was not equally observed on all parameters analyzed. It was most marked on pain (at rest and on movement) and on the ability to work.

Physiotherapy Versus Calcitonin Spray-Added Physiotherapy for Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

“…The patients were simply and randomly divided into 2 groups based on the number of registered cases: group I was treated with physiotherapy and group II underwent physiotherapy in association with spray calcitonin consumption as one puff per day (equal to 200 IN) (6). Physiotherapy protocol was the same for all patients and included returning motor domain of the limbs, inactivating points that served as trigger points, sensitizing, and training motions to return their motor domain and strengthen the muscles.…”

“…Calcitonin is a polypeptide hormone secreted by parafollicular cells of thyroid gland, which initially acts on bones. Also, it affects kidney and digestion system and controls absorption process of bone tissue manifested through reduction of its osteoclast and activity (6)(7)(8)(9). The present study was an attempt to evaluate the effects of calcitonin on complex regional pain syndrome I (10).…”

Patchy Osteoporosis in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

“…A recent review analysis also describes positive results for calcium-regulating drugs, including calcitonin, administered to CRPS patients (Fofouzanfar et al, 2002). Although calcitonin has some efficacy in pain, range of motion, with a rapid onset of action (Gobelet et al, 1992), whether its use has effect on the patchy osteoporosis in CRPS has not been validated through animal or clinical studies.…”

Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome: a review of the evidence

“…Bone scintigraphy was also similar. In 66 patients diagnosed with wrist or ankle CRPS, Gobelet et al 5 combined an intensive physiotherapy regimen (eight-week course) to a three-week course of nasal calcitonin or nasal placebo spray. At eight weeks, these authors noted decreased static and dynamic pain scores (using a four-point pain scale) in the treatment compared with the placebo group (0.45 ± 0.68 vs 0.69 ± 0.93; P \ 0.007 and 0.77 ± 0.76 vs 1.22 ± 0.91; P \ 0.04, respectively).…”