Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic, often debilitating pain condition typically affecting a limb after trauma or surgery. CRPS Type I occurs without confirmed nerve injury, while CRPS Type II follows nerve trauma. Key features include burning/aching pain, swelling, skin color or temperature changes, hypersensitivity, limited range of motion, and sometimes abnormal hair or nail growth.
Estimates suggest CRPS affects tens of thousands annually. Early diagnosis (within 6 months) significantly improves outcomes.
Treatment includes multidisciplinary approaches: physical therapy (including graded motor imagery), pain medications (NSAIDs, neuropathic agents), nerve blocks, sympathetic nerve treatments, and psychological support. Early mobilization is crucial to prevent disuse and worsening symptoms. Neuromodulation techniques, particularly spinal cord stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation, offer significant promise in alleviating the pain from CRPS.
