Rehabilitation strategy after peripheral nerve injury

Peripheral nerve damage can result from a multitude of etiologies and may have far-reaching effects on sensory and motor function. The resulting dysfunction can, in turn, lead to neuropathic pain, impairments in mobility, and reduced productivity. The goals of rehabilitation following nerve injury are to assist in pain management, minimize disability, and improve the patient's quality of life - at times irrespective of diagnosis or prognosis. The rehabilitation clinician has a multitude of tools at their disposal which include: physical and occupational therapies, the use of braces or supports, modalities including electrical stimulation as well as visual feedback systems, and complementary or integrative treatments. This chapter will discuss these treatment options as they relate to a multidisciplinary care program.