Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) was previously known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). Although symptoms and causes range widely the most common symptom is severe pain most often in an extremity such as a leg or arm that seems out of proportion to the injury or illness with which it is associated. A leading cause of CRPS is mild to severe trauma such as injuries or surgery. It can also be associated with nerve injuries. CRPS affects millions of people in the United States with a higher incidence among women.

A number of treatment options exist for patients with CRPS such as:

• Nerve blocks
• Drug therapy
• Physical therapy
• External or implantable pain-relief devices

While these treatments can help significantly it is difficult to predict the response and often CRPS treatment results in partial but important relief.