Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

About 200,000 Americans deal with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) each year, and if you’re among them you might be struggling to live a comfortable life. At Olympus Spine and Pain, Dr. Warner offers comprehensive pain management for CRPS patients in the Murray, Utah, office. Book your appointment online or call the office for help today.

What is complex regional pain syndrome?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that affects limbs (arms or legs) following a medical event like a traumatic injury. It causes extreme sensitivity and pain along with other disruptive issues. 

What are the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome?

Complex regional pain syndrome usually causes burning pain or an unpleasant pins-and-needles sensation in the affected limb. You might also experience these issues in the limb.

• Extreme sensitivity to even a light touch
• Local swelling
• Skin temperature changes (cool- or hot-feeling limb)
• Skin color changes
• Skin texture changes
• Hair and nail growth changes
• Sweating excessively or not at all
• Joint stiffness
• Reduced movement
• Muscle weakness 

In rare cases, some people with CRPS experience “mirror” pain, with the opposite limb having the same symptoms in the same area.

What causes complex regional pain syndrome?

Most CRPS cases start with trauma to an arm or leg, like a wrist fracture, cut, burn, strain, or sprain. It can also develop in the aftermath of surgery, a heart attack, or a long period of limb immobilization (casting).  

Trauma leads to nerve damage in the affected limb. That nerve damage triggers malfunction in the peripheral C-fibers, the nerve fibers that transmit pain signals to your brain. Essentially, the fibers start to “fire” excessively, triggering inflammation and pain. 

While most cases of CRPS involve a clear source of nerve damage, there are also times when there’s no obvious nerve damage.  

How is complex regional pain syndrome treated? 

At Olympus Spine and Pain, Dr. Warner offers a comprehensive array of solutions for CRPS pain. Treatment usually includes several approaches that encompass lifestyle and innovative medical therapies. Some of the many options include: 

• Physical therapy
• Oral medication
• Corticosteroid injections
• Nerve block injections
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Peripheral nerve stimulation
• Intrathecal drug pump
• Ketamine infusions* 

Dr. Warner is well-versed in the most leading-edge solutions for CRPS. He helps you understand all of the treatment choices and recommends an approach that’s ideal for your lifestyle. The goal of treatment is to ease your pain enough to let you get back to life on your terms. 

For help with complex regional pain syndrome, click the online scheduler or call Olympus Spine and Pain to arrange your appointment with Dr. Warner now. 

*Ketamine infusions are FDA-approved as a sole anesthetic agent for diagnostic and surgical purposes, but are not yet approved for chronic pain treatment. Spravato®, an esketamine nasal spray, has FDA approval for addressing treatment-resistant depression.