Ease Burning Pain. Move More Easily. Maximize Your Quality of Life.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Treatments
Find Expert Support For Pain Relief
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a very painful condition that can make your daily life more challenging. Characterized by intense burning sensations, symptoms can be triggered by a light touch. As time goes on, it can spread further in the body as symptoms worsen. Fortunately, early treatment can help partially reverse or delay this progression to maximize your quality of life.
At Total Spine Institute, we offer the powerful combination of an expert team and advanced therapies that can help treat this rare and painful condition. If you have severe pain or sensitivity from small movements, our treatments may be able to provide the relief you’re looking for. Call us at (818) 616-4429 to schedule a complimentary consultation at one of our locations in Northern California, Southern California and Arizona.
Schedule a Consultation
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
*By submitting this form, I consent to be contacted by Total Spine Institute via phone, text, email, or mail. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. I agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge the Privacy Policy. Reply STOP to opt out.
What Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a chronic pain condition. It usually affects one limb after an injury or trauma has occurred. This condition causes intense and painful burning sensations that are typically much worse than the pain from the initial injury.
CRPS causes the nervous system to send constant pain signals even when there is no tissue damage. People with this condition usually say their affected limb feels like it is “on fire” due to the intense burning. CRPS can impair your quality of life, making easy tasks like writing more difficult to do. Even a very light touch can trigger the pain from this condition.
What Are The Symptoms?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is usually characterized by intense, burning pain, but it also has other symptoms. These symptoms often include:
- Intense burning pain that’s worse than the original injury
- Skin changes that may include temperature differences, color changes (red, blue, or mottled), or unusual sweating patterns
- Swelling in the affected limb
- Stiffness, weakness, or abnormal movements
- Sensitivity to touch, such as light contact, causes severe pain
- Changes in hair and nail growth in the affected body part
Everyone is affected differently by this condition, but symptoms usually become more intense over time. Fortunately, early intervention may help.
What Causes Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
CRPS typically develops after an injury, surgery, or trauma to an arm or leg. Common triggers include:
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Surgical procedures
- Cuts or burns
- Nerve injuries
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Infections
However, the exact reason why CRPS develops is complex. This condition appears to result from dysfunction in the nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The nervous system contains the brain and spinal cord, whereas the peripheral nervous system is made up of the nerves in the body. With CRPS, the nervous system gets “stuck” in a pattern of inflammation and signaling pain. Sometimes it occurs without an obvious cause. However, this is very unlikely. CRPS is not contagious, meaning it cannot spread from one person to another.
How Is CRPS Diagnosed?
Since there is no single test that definitively confirms CRPS, it can be difficult for a doctor to diagnose this condition. Usually, doctors rely on patient history, clinical observations, and key symptoms to diagnose this condition.
The diagnostic process usually involves:
- Detailed medical history and physical examination
- Review of symptoms and their progression
- Sometimes, imaging tests like bone scans or MRIs are used to rule out other conditions
- Specialized tests to assess nerve function
When diagnosed early, CRPS tends to respond better to treatment.
What Are The Different Treatments For CRPS?
While there is no cure for CRPS, treatment may help ease pain, improve flexibility, and enhance mobility. Our providers can assess your condition and recommend one or more of the following therapies to help maximize your quality of life.
Physical Therapy
Therapeutic exercises under the guidance of a physical therapist may help alleviate your CRPS symptoms. The goal of these exercises is to help strengthen your muscles, enhance your flexibility, and improve your range of motion. This type of therapy may help reduce inflammation and pain in your body and can be tailored to meet your goals.
Why Choose Total Spine Institute
Meet Our Spine Specialists
Meet Our Providers
Patient Testimonials
Schedule A CRPS Appointment
CRPS FAQs
Can Treatment Reverse The Symptoms Of CRPS?
Treatment for CRPS may help prevent or delay the progression of symptoms. Usually, treatment can be the most helpful when you start at an early stage of your condition.
Can CRPS Spread?
Yes. CRPS can spread past the affected limb. Early treatment may help prevent CRPS from spreading to other body parts.
What Happens When CRPS Is Untreated?
When left untreated, the symptoms of CRPS usually intensify and may become irreversible. Stronger pain, muscle weakness, and decreased bone density may occur. However, early treatment may help prevent these complications.
Schedule a
Consultation
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (bottom)
*By submitting this form, I consent to be contacted by Total Spine Institute via phone, text, email, or mail. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. I agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge the Privacy Policy. Reply STOP to opt out.