Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a debilitating and often misunderstood medical condition that affects the nervous system, causing severe and persistent pain that can be out of proportion to the original injury. For many patients, CRPS leads to a significant decline in their quality of life, making everyday activities difficult or even impossible.
At VeriSpine Joint Centers, we offer top-quality complex regional pain syndrome treatments in Georgia. Whether your CRPS is the result of a personal injury, workers’ compensation case, or a chronic condition, our experienced team is here to guide you through diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
What Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition typically affecting a limb after an injury, surgery, stroke, or heart attack. While the initial event may be relatively minor, CRPS can cause disproportionate and persistent pain. It is characterized by a combination of sensory, motor, autonomic, skin, and bone abnormalities.
CRPS is classified into two types:
- Type I (previously known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) occurs without confirmed nerve injury.
- Type II (formerly called Causalgia) is associated with a distinct nerve injury.
What sets CRPS apart from other types of pain is its intensity and complexity. The nervous system essentially “misfires,” sending exaggerated pain signals to the brain. Even light touches, changes in temperature, or movements can trigger unbearable discomfort.
While CRPS can sometimes resolve on its own, many cases become chronic and progressively worse without appropriate Complex Regional Pain Syndrome treatments. Early intervention is critical. Our goal at VeriSpine Joint Centers is to reduce pain, restore function, and help patients regain control over their lives.
What Are the Symptoms of CRPS?
The hallmark of CRPS is continuous, burning, or throbbing pain, often localized in an arm, leg, hand, or foot. This pain is usually out of proportion to the original injury and may worsen over time if not properly managed.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome can cause a range of other symptoms. Patients may notice their affected limb is swollen, extremely sensitive to touch, or changes color and temperature unpredictably. Over time, the muscles and joints may become stiff or weak, leading to reduced mobility and function.
Common symptoms of CRPS include:
- Continuous burning or throbbing pain, often in the limb
- Sensitivity to touch or cold
- Swelling in the affected area
- Changes in skin temperature — alternating between sweaty and cold
- Changes in skin color — blotchy, pale, or red
- Changes in skin texture — shiny, thin, or excessively sweaty
- Joint stiffness and swelling
- Muscle spasms, tremors, or weakness
- Decreased ability to move the affected body part
- Abnormal nail and hair growth patterns in the affected area
At VeriSpine Joint Centers, our doctors take the time to listen to your symptoms, thoroughly evaluate your condition, and design a treatment plan that addresses your needs.
What Causes Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
The exact cause of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome remains unclear, but it is believed to involve a combination of nerve injury, inflammation, and abnormal immune system responses. CRPS typically develops after a traumatic event such as a fracture, surgery, sprain, or soft tissue injury. However, the pain and dysfunction it causes are much more severe than would typically be expected from the initial trauma.
Many experts believe Complex Regional Pain Syndrome happens when the nervous system sends excessive pain signals or overreacts to these signals. Inflammation from immune system overreaction may also play a key role.
Potential triggers and risk factors for CRPS include:
- Fractures or broken bones
- Surgical procedures (especially limb surgeries)
- Soft tissue injuries (sprains, burns, or cuts)
- Nerve damage or trauma
- Stroke or heart attack
- Prolonged limb immobilization (e.g., in a cast or sling)
- Psychological stress or post-traumatic stress
- Genetic predisposition or autoimmune conditions
How Is CRPS Diagnosed?
Diagnosing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome can be challenging because there is no single definitive test for the condition. Instead, doctors must evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and physical exam findings, and rule out other potential causes.
During a physical exam, doctors will check for changes in skin color, temperature, swelling, range of motion, and pain sensitivity. They may recommend various diagnostic tests, including:
- Bone Scan: May reveal abnormal blood flow or bone metabolism in the affected limb.
- X-rays: Can show patchy bone loss, especially in chronic cases.
- MRI or CT Scans: To rule out other conditions and identify tissue or nerve abnormalities.
- Thermography: Measures skin temperature differences between limbs.
- Electrodiagnostic Testing (EMG/NCS): Helps evaluate nerve function.
Our team at VeriSpine Joint Centers has experience treating CRPS and other conditions that can cause chronic pain, such as Fibromyalgia and Cervical Radiculopathy.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Treatments
At VeriSpine Joint Centers, we understand that each patient’s journey with pain is unique. We combine physical therapy and rehabilitation, advanced interventional pain procedures, and regenerative medicine to tailor Complex Regional Pain Syndrome treatment plans for your needs.
Medications
While medications may be used to manage symptoms of CRPS, VeriSpine Joint Centers focuses on minimizing pharmaceutical dependency whenever possible. Still, medications can play a useful role in early or acute CRPS, or when other Complex Regional Pain Syndrome treatments alone aren’t sufficient.
Medications doctors may prescribe for CRPS include:
- NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen) – for reducing inflammation and pain.
- Corticosteroids – to address severe inflammation, especially early in the disease.
- Antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, duloxetine) – for nerve pain modulation.
- Anticonvulsants (e.g., gabapentin, pregabalin) – to reduce nerve pain sensitivity.
- Bisphosphonates – to slow bone changes seen in some chronic CRPS cases.
- Topical agents (e.g., lidocaine patches or capsaicin cream) – for localized pain.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a crucial part of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome treatment. CRPS often causes patients to avoid using the affected limb due to pain, which can worsen stiffness, weakness, and loss of function over time.
Our physical therapists create custom exercise programs tailored to your current abilities and pain level. The focus is on improving mobility, strength, circulation, and desensitization of the affected area. Early and consistent participation in physical therapy has been shown to significantly improve long-term outcomes in CRPS patients.
Pain Relief Procedures
For patients whose symptoms do not respond adequately to medications or therapy alone, interventional pain procedures can provide meaningful relief. These minimally invasive treatments target the nerves or pathways involved in CRPS to interrupt the pain cycle and allow other forms of therapy to work more effectively.
- Trigger Point Injections: A trigger point injection uses a local anesthetic, sometimes with steroids, to relieve muscle pain and tension in a specific area.
- Sympathetic Nerve Blocks: This procedure involves injecting medicine near certain nerves in the neck or lower back to reduce pain and improve blood flow.
- Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS): A small device placed near the spine sends electrical signals that block pain from reaching the brain.
Why Choose VeriSpine Joint Centers?
At VeriSpine Joint Centers, we are dedicated to providing exceptional, patient-focused care for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Our team has years of experience in pain management, physical medicine, rehabilitation, and injury recovery. We believe in combining clinical excellence with compassion. From your first consultation to your final treatment, our doctors and staff support you every step of the way.
We have extensive experience assisting with personal injury, workers’ compensation, and federal workers’ compensation (OWCP) cases. We can refer you to seasoned lawyers and provide medical documentation.
Contact Our Pain Specialists Today
Early diagnosis and the right treatment can make a significant difference in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. At VeriSpine Joint Centers, our pain management specialists are committed to helping you find relief and reclaim your life.
Whether you are dealing with CRPS due to personal injury, a workers’ compensation case, or a chronic condition, we offer cutting-edge treatments and compassionate care.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
