Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition usually affecting a limb after injury or surgery — producing burning pain, swelling, and skin changes disproportionate to the original injury.
About Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), is a chronic pain disorder that most often affects an arm or leg after an injury, surgery, fracture, or stroke. The pain is out of proportion to the original event and is accompanied by changes in skin color, temperature, swelling, and sensitivity.
Because CRPS can progress and become harder to treat over time, early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary plan are critical. Our team combines interventional procedures with rehabilitation to interrupt the pain cycle.
Common symptoms
- Continuous burning or throbbing pain in a limb
- Sensitivity to touch, temperature, or pressure (allodynia)
- Swelling and changes in skin color or temperature
- Changes in hair, nail growth, or skin texture
- Stiffness, weakness, or tremor in the affected area
What causes complex regional pain syndrome
Fractures or broken bones
Surgery, especially of the limbs
Sprains, strains, and crush injuries
Nerve damage from trauma
In some cases, with no clear inciting event
How we treat complex regional pain syndrome
Sympathetic nerve blocks
01Stellate ganglion or lumbar sympathetic blocks to interrupt the pain signaling driving CRPS.
Learn moreSpinal cord stimulation
02Advanced therapy for CRPS that has not responded to less-invasive options.
Learn moreTrigger point and steroid injections
03Targeted injections to reduce localized inflammation and muscle guarding.
Learn morePhysical therapy
04Desensitization, graded motor imagery, and gentle reconditioning of the affected limb.
Learn moreWhen to see a specialist
See a pain specialist promptly if pain after an injury or surgery seems out of proportion to the event, if you notice skin color, temperature, or swelling changes, or if symptoms are not improving as expected during recovery. Early treatment matters.
Book Free ConsultationAll common symptoms
- Continuous burning or throbbing pain in a limb
- Sensitivity to touch, temperature, or pressure (allodynia)
- Swelling and changes in skin color or temperature
- Changes in hair, nail growth, or skin texture
- Stiffness, weakness, or tremor in the affected area
Get expert care for complex regional pain syndrome
Request a consultation and our specialists will identify the source of your pain and build a treatment plan around it.