Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: What It Is and How It’s Treated

Rare pain disorders like complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) require expert interventional pain management. CRPS typically affects one limb, often after an injury, surgery, stroke, or even a minor trauma. However, unlike typical pain, CRPS doesn’t behave predictably.

The affected area can feel hypersensitive, or even cold to the touch. Skin may swell, change color, or feel hot to the touch. Symptoms vary, but are disproportionate to what would be expected from the original injury.

At Pain Management Specialists, our board-certified interventional pain management physicians are highly experienced in diagnosing and treating complex conditions like CRPS. Through a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach, our team helps patients manage pain, restore function, and improve quality of life.

How CRPS develops

CRPS is divided into two types:

Type I (occurs without confirmed nerve damage)
Type II (involves a known nerve injury)

While the exact cause isn’t fully understood, CRPS is believed to involve dysfunction in the peripheral and central nervous systems. It may also involve an exaggerated inflammatory response or abnormal interaction between the nerves and immune system.

CRPS can develop weeks after an injury. It’s common to experience symptoms that seem out of proportion, such as intense burning pain, sensitivity to light touch, temperature changes, and even joint stiffness.

Over time, without proper treatment, muscles may weaken, and the affected limb may become difficult to move.

Why early diagnosis matters

CRPS is easier to treat when caught within the first few months of symptoms. If you’re experiencing lingering, worsening pain after an injury or surgery that doesn’t make sense, it’s crucial to seek evaluation from a specialist.

The team at Pain Management Specialists performs a detailed diagnostic workup, which may include physical exams, imaging, and nerve testing to rule out other conditions and confirm a CRPS diagnosis.

Interventional therapies to calm nerve overactivity

The team at Pain Management Specialists create personalized plans using a range of proven options. Nerve blocks or lumbar sympathetic blocks are often the first line of interventional care, depending on the affected limb.

These injections interrupt abnormal nerve activity, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow. For patients with persistent symptoms, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) or dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation may offer long-term relief by modulating pain signals at the spinal level.

Restoring movement and function

After stabilizing pain, regaining mobility of the affected limb is critical. Physical and occupational therapy are customized to your condition, focusing on desensitization techniques, range-of-motion exercises, and functional rehabilitation.

Mirror therapy and graded motor imagery may be used to rewire how the brain processes pain. Additional support like TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) can further reduce discomfort and support recovery. Our team continually monitors your response and adapts your plan to help restore daily function and prevent long-term disability.

Expert support on your CRPS journey

You don’t have to live with unchecked pain or uncertainty. With timely care and a multidisciplinary strategy, CRPS can be managed, and you can restore a good quality of life. If you suspect CRPS, don’t wait. Contact our team to schedule an expert evaluation and start your path to healing.