What is CRPS?

Clinically referred to as CRPS, complex regional pain syndrome is a severely debilitating condition that affects the arms or legs and may develop after an injury or surgery. It can develop anywhere throughout the body, but most often occurs in the arms, leg, hands, or feet. Severe cases of CRPS may experience pain from the slightest touch or breeze of air. This condition is often associated with severe trauma like broken bones or amputation, although it is present in patients who have sustained only minor injuries like sprained ankles. In some cases, it has been known to develop in individuals during periods of high stress or without any known cause at all.

There are two types of CRPS:

• Type I – is referred to as sympathetic dystrophy, which is a case of CRPS that does not involve nerve damage.
• Type II – is referred to as causalgia, which does result in nerve damage.

Symptoms of CRPS

Medical professionals agree that this disorder may be the result of the immune system affecting the nervous system, causing inflammation of the nerves that are responsible for blood flow, sensation, and temperature. The symptoms of CRPS develop in three stages:

Stage 1: Usually lasts 1-3 months

• Produces severe burning or aching pain that increases with touch, even air blowing on the skin
• Skin temperature fluctuates
• Hair and nails grow faster than usual
• Joint pain
• Muscle spasms
• Skin may change color or texture (pale, red, purple, mottled, or thin and shiny)
• Increased perspiration

Stage 2: May last between 3-6 months as symptoms progress

• Brittle or cracked nails
• Increased pain
• Hair growth slows
• Joint stiffness is more evident and severe

Stage 3: If the condition progresses to stage 3, the pain can be so severe that the sufferer may not use the affected limb, causing further muscle atrophy and contractures that are permanent.

How is CRPS treated?

Unfortunately, CRPS cannot be cured, but certain minimally invasive treatments are available to reduce pain, which help sufferers regain mobility and strength to prevent the condition from worsening. Non-surgical treatments for CRPS may include nerve blocks, anesthetic injections, or a spinal cord stimulator.

Nerve blocks work by numbing the targeted nerve responsible for sending pain signals to the brain. A nerve block won’t cause your limb to become numb, but only disrupts the pain signals.

Anesthetic injections can numb the targeted area enough so that you can still use the limb for daily activities or to regain strength through exercising, physical therapy, or occupational therapy.

Spinal cord stimulators are implanted devices that deliver radiofrequency electrical currents to the spinal cord, disrupting the pain signals, and reducing pain. Spinal cord stimulators are safe and comfortable to use and should not contribute to your discomfort. You will be given a Bluetooth remote to control the device any time that you need pain relief.

Treating CRPS Pain in Southwest Tennessee and North Mississippi, including Tupelo, MS and Jackson, TN

CRPS can become a severely debilitating condition and is reportedly painful. However, you no longer must live with chronic pain associated with CRPS because MSSP offers minimally invasive procedures to help reduce your pain so that you can regain your mobility and strength. Reclaim your health and your movement, pain-free, by choosing Midsouth Spine & Pain Associates. Learn more about trigger point injection therapy or schedule a consultation by calling (662) 284-8565.