Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) / Causalgia

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Causalgia are terms for neuropathic pain that develops after an injury, illness, or surgery. The pain is usually out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury, and it persists long after the injury has healed. The arms and legs are most commonly affected, but similar pain syndromes can develop on other parts of the body, too: the groin/genitals, trunk, and face, for example.

Signs and symptoms may any include the following:

• Continuous burning, aching, or throbbing

• Tingling or other sensory changes

• Intermittent swelling

• Skin color or temperature changes

• Sensitivity to touch, hot, or cold

• Muscle spasms or atrophy

CRPS sometimes resolves on its own. If not, some patients find relief with physical therapy, nerve blocks, and medications. For those who have persistent and severe symptoms despite the above measures, spinal cord stimulation can be very effective at reducing pain.