Complex regional pain syndrome

Updated: 2022-05-10

Overview

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a form of chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg. CRPS typically develops after an injury, a surgery, a stroke or a heart attack. The pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury.

CRPS is uncommon, and its cause isn't clearly understood. Treatment is most effective when started early. In such cases, improvement and even remission are possible.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of CRPS include:

• Continuous burning or throbbing pain, usually in the arm, leg, hand or foot
• Sensitivity to touch or cold
• Swelling of the painful area
• Changes in skin temperature — alternating between sweaty and cold
• Changes in skin color, ranging from white and blotchy to red or blue
• Changes in skin texture, which may become tender, thin or shiny in the affected area
• Changes in hair and nail growth
• Joint stiffness, swelling and damage
• Muscle spasms, tremors and weakness (atrophy)
• Decreased ability to move the affected body part

Symptoms may change over time and vary from person to person. Pain, swelling, redness, noticeable changes in temperature and hypersensitivity (particularly to cold and touch) usually occur first.

Over time, the affected limb can become cold and pale. It may undergo skin and nail changes as well as muscle spasms and tightening. Once these changes occur, the condition is often irreversible.

CRPS occasionally may spread from its source to elsewhere in the body, such as the opposite limb.

In some people, signs and symptoms of CRPS go away on their own. In others, signs and symptoms may persist for months to years. Treatment is likely to be most effective when started early in the course of the illness.

When to see a doctor

If you experience constant, severe pain that affects a limb and makes touching or moving that limb seem intolerable, see your health care provider to determine the cause. It's important to treat CRPS early.

Causes

The cause of CRPS isn't completely understood. It's thought to be caused by an injury to or difference in the peripheral and central nervous systems. CRPS typically occurs as a result of a trauma or an injury.

CRPS occurs in two types, with similar signs and symptoms, but different causes:

• Type 1. Also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), this type occurs after an illness or injury that didn't directly damage the nerves in the affected limb. About 90% of people with CRPS have type 1.
• Type 2. Once referred to as causalgia, this type has symptoms similar to those of type 1. But type 2 CRPS occurs after a distinct nerve injury.

Many cases of CRPS occur after a forceful trauma to an arm or a leg. This can include a crushing injury or a fracture.

Other major and minor traumas — such as surgery, heart attacks, infections and even sprained ankles — also can lead to CRPS.

It's not well understood why these injuries can trigger CRPS. Not everyone who has such an injury will go on to develop CRPS. It might be due to an interaction between your central and peripheral nervous systems that isn't typical and different inflammatory responses.

Complications

If CRPS isn't diagnosed and treated early, the disease may progress to more-disabling signs and symptoms.

• Tissue wasting (atrophy). The skin, bones and muscles may begin to deteriorate and weaken if you avoid or have trouble moving an arm or a leg because of pain or stiffness.
• Muscle tightening (contracture). You also may experience tightening of the muscles. This may lead to a condition in which the hand and fingers or the foot and toes contract into a fixed position.

Prevention

These steps might help you reduce the risk of developing CRPS:

• Taking vitamin C after a wrist fracture. Studies have shown that people who take a high dose of vitamin C after a wrist fracture may have a lower risk of CRPS compared with those who didn't take vitamin C.
• Early mobilization after a stroke. Some research suggests that people who get out of bed and walk around soon after a stroke (early mobilization) reduce their risk of developing CRPS.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of CRPS is based on a physical exam and your medical history. There's no single test that can definitively diagnose CRPS, but the following procedures may provide important clues:

• Bone scan. This procedure might help find bone changes. A radioactive substance injected into one of your veins allows your bones to be seen with a special camera.
• Sweat production tests. Some tests can measure the amount of sweat on both limbs. Uneven results may indicate CRPS.
• X-rays. Loss of minerals from your bones may show up on an X-ray in later stages of the disease.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Images captured with an MRI test may show tissue changes that rule out other conditions.

Treatment

There's some evidence that early treatment might help improve symptoms of CRPS. Often, a combination of different treatments, tailored to your specific case, is necessary. Treatment options include:

Medications

Doctors use various medications to treat the symptoms of CRPS.

• Pain relievers. Pain relievers available without a prescription — such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may ease mild pain and inflammation.

  Your doctor may prescribe stronger pain relievers if OTC ones aren't helpful. Opioid medications might be an option. Taken in low doses, they might help control pain.

• Antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Sometimes antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, and anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin (Gralise, Neurontin), are used to treat pain that originates from a damaged nerve (neuropathic pain).
• Corticosteroids. Steroid medications, such as prednisone, may reduce inflammation and improve mobility in the affected limb.
• Bone-loss medications. Your provider may suggest medications to prevent or stall bone loss, such as alendronate (Binosto, Fosamax) and calcitonin (Miacalcin).
• Sympathetic nerve-blocking medication. Injection of an anesthetic to block pain fibers in the affected nerves may relieve pain in some people.
• Intravenous ketamine. Some studies show that low doses of intravenous ketamine, a strong anesthetic, may substantially alleviate pain.
• Medicines to lower blood pressure. Sometimes high blood pressure medications, including prazosin (Minipress), phenoxybenzamine (Dibenzyline) and clonidine can help to control pain.

Therapies

• Heat therapy. Applying heat may offer relief of swelling and discomfort on skin that feels cool.
• Topical analgesics. Various topical treatments are available that may reduce hypersensitivity, such as capsaicin cream available without a prescription, or lidocaine cream or patches (Lidoderm, ZTlido, others).
• Physical or occupational therapy. Gentle, guided exercising of the affected limbs or modifying daily activities might help decrease pain and improve range of motion and strength. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more effective exercises might be.
• Mirror therapy. This type of therapy uses a mirror to help trick the brain. Sitting before a mirror or mirror box, you move the healthy limb so that the brain perceives it as the limb that is affected by CRPS. Research shows that this type of therapy might help improve function and reduce pain for those with CRPS.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). Chronic pain is sometimes eased by applying electrical impulses to nerve endings.
• Biofeedback. In some cases, learning biofeedback techniques may help. In biofeedback, you learn to become more aware of your body so that you can relax your body and relieve pain.
• Spinal cord stimulation. Your provider inserts tiny electrodes along your spinal cord. A small electrical current delivered to the spinal cord results in pain relief.
• Intrathecal drug pumps. In this therapy, medications that relieve pain are pumped into the spinal cord fluid.
• Acupuncture. The insertion of long, thin needles may help stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue to increase blood flow and relieve pain.

It's possible for CRPS to recur, sometimes due to a trigger such as exposure to cold or intense emotional stress. Recurrences may be treated with small doses of an antidepressant or other medication.

Coping and support

Living with a chronic, painful condition can be challenging, especially when — as is often the case with CRPS — your friends and family don't believe you could be feeling as much pain as you describe. Share information from reliable sources about CRPS with those close to you to help them understand what you're experiencing.

Follow these suggestions to take care of your physical and mental health:

• Maintain typical daily activities as best you can.
• Pace yourself and be sure to get the rest that you need.
• Stay connected with friends and family.
• Continue to pursue hobbies that you enjoy and are able to do.

If CRPS makes it difficult for you to do things you enjoy, ask your provider about ways to get around the obstacles.

Keep in mind that your physical health can directly affect your mental health. Denial, anger and frustration are common with chronic illnesses.

At times, you may need more tools to deal with your emotions. A therapist, behavioral psychologist or other professional may be able to help you put things in perspective. He or she may also be able to teach you coping skills, such as relaxation or meditation techniques.

Sometimes joining a support group, where you can share experiences and feelings with other people, is a good approach. Ask your provider what support groups are available in your community.

Preparing for your appointment

To get the best medical care, take time to prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Write down any symptoms you're experiencing — including the severity and location of your pain, stiffness or sensitivity. It's also a good idea to write down any questions you have for your provider.

Examples of questions you might ask your provider include:

• What's the likely cause of my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests, if any, do I need?
• Is my condition temporary or possibly chronic?
• What types of treatments are available? Which do you recommend?
• What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
• I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing for me?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home? What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your provider, don't hesitate to ask additional questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your provider is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may leave time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. For CRPS, your provider may ask:

• Have you had a recent accident, illness or injury, such as trauma to your limbs, a heart attack or an infection?
• Have you had surgery recently?
• When did you first begin experiencing pain or burning?
• How long have you been experiencing your symptoms?
• Is the pain occasional or continuous?
• Does anything seem to improve or worsen your symptoms?
• Have you experienced similar symptoms after past injuries?