Chronic pain of any kind causes stress and negatively influences your life. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is no exception, but many doctors and patients don’t know much about it, making the disorder difficult to diagnose and treat. Complex regional pain syndrome is associated with a dysfunction of the nervous system. At Comprehensive Pain and Neurology Center, our mission is to identify and treat all pain disorders, including CRPS. Learn how to spot CRPS and the treatment that can alleviate or eliminate it.
What is CRPS?
CRPS usually affects a specific area like an arm or leg. It typically occurs after an injury to soft tissue, but it can begin spontaneously. What makes the pain syndrome identifiable is when the pain is out of proportion to the original injury. The pain associated with complex regional pain syndrome is different from normal pain; it usually burns or throbs continually rather than waxing and waning. Other symptoms of CRPS include:
- Swelling of the affected area
- Changes in the affected area’s temperature, especially from very hot to very cold
- Changes in the affected area’s color; look for red or blue-tinged skin or mottling
- Stiffness, muscle spasms, or eventual atrophy
- Loss of motion range in the affected area
- Tender, thin or shiny skin
CRPS can spread from the affected limb to other body parts and cause severe emotional stress or depression. It is vital to recognize symptoms and seek treatment early.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Although CRPS is a clinical diagnosis, there are several tests that help determine if you have CRPS. Your doctor may perform X-rays and MRIs to determine if your affected bones have lost minerals or if affected tissues are breaking down. Your doctor may follow these procedures with a bone scan. Many doctors also conduct sympathetic nerve tests and other nerve studies, which may tell them the type of CRPS you have.
Several treatments exist for CRPS; our providers will work with you to find out which treatments are best for you. Many treatments include over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pain relievers, antidepressants, and/or anti-epileptic medications may be used to control the pain associated with CRPS. More aggressive treatment options include sympathetic nerve blocks and/or neuromodulation trials. Both these options have shown strong evidence for relief within the medical literature.
If you have symptoms similar to the above and have not responded to conservative treatments, speak with one of the providers at the Comprehensive Pain and Neurology Center.