Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: What Exactly Is It?

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as reflex sympathetic nerve dystrophy, is a disorder in which a person has persistent pain in one of their limbs. In individuals with CRPS, it is assumed that the peripheral nerve system, which aids in controlling pain signals in the body, is injured or not operating properly. Many people with CRPS get the syndrome as a result of an arm or leg injury. CRPS is more common in women but can occur in anyone at any age, with a peak around age 40. 

What triggers the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

There is no definitive reason behind what causes Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. However, in most cases, it can be linked to a limb injury or trauma that can be the cause of the discomfort. Some triggers for CRPS can be associated with Cuts, Bruises, Burns, Fractures, Surgeries, Sprains, and strains.

The body responds abnormally to these traumas in patients who then go on to develop CRPS, which makes the pain almost unbearable. Those who suffer from autoimmune diseases or inflammatory diseases are much more likely to develop CRPS than people without these conditions. Your risk for developing CRPS may also be influenced by your overall genetics.

In some cases, there isn’t any evident injury or trauma that has caused the aberrant response in a small percentage of CRPS sufferers. However, the disease might also be caused by an injury internally which then needs further diagnostic testing to identify.

Indications of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Sometimes, pain, which can feel like a burning or squeezing sensation and may affect the entire limb or just a portion of it, is one of the most widely experienced CRPS symptoms. Even patients who simply sustained an injury to a finger or other minor portion of the limb can experience this. Any touch or contact to the affected area can be excruciating for people with CRPS.

Due to poor circulation brought on by any kind of nerve injury, some patients also notice changes in skin tone and temperature in the affected area. There could also be swelling. However, not everyone with CRPS will exhibit the same level of symptoms. While some people may only feel little discomfort that eventually goes away, others could feel more severe discomfort that never goes away. 

Additionally, people may have the following signs in the affected limb:

• Changes in the skin texture and appearance 
• Reduction in flexibility and movement
• Tightness and/or rigidity
• Lack of Coordination
• Unexplained sweating
• Spasms

Your doctor will carefully examine your health to rule out any other possible causes of your pain, such as arthritis, Lyme disease, or a blood clot, and will review your medical history to establish whether you have CRPS. MRIs and bone scans are typically helpful in identifying CRPS in patients.

Possible Treatments for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

You might have numerous alternatives for treating Complex Regional Pain Syndrome at a joint clinic nearby, depending on your particular situation.

These may consist of:

• Medication

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, along with other treatments, may be used in combination to treat your CRPS, particularly if you identify the problem early.

• Exercise

Your doctor can assist you in creating a beneficial workout regimen that will increase circulation and maintain as much mobility in your limb as possible to improve its function.

• Nerve blocks

Sympathetic nerve blocks may be advantageous for some CRPS patients in providing them with some temporary pain relief.  

• Dealing with your Mental Health

Depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result from chronic pain, which might make you more sensitive to pain.

Your other CRPS therapies may be more effective if you address your mental health.

• Activating the spinal cord

It could be possible to lessen the discomfort experienced by people with CRPS by stimulating the spinal cord to stop pain signals from reaching the brain.

There is frequently no one solution that can relieve CRPS agony in sufferers. You can, nevertheless, come up with a therapy strategy that lessens your discomfort and enhances your quality of life by consulting with a pain management specialist with experience.

Looking for a spine and  joint clinic nearby? Give us a call!

Has reflex sympathetic nerve dystrophy affected you and your lifestyle? To make an appointment with one of our board-certified pain management doctors and learn more about your CRPS treatment options, call Center for Spine & Pain Medicine at (706) 279-2635 in Dalton, GA, at (678) 450-1222 in Gainesville, GA, and at (706) 279-2635 in Chattanooga, TN.