Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a diagnosis once used to describe my pain. I've noticed over the years that although the pain has remained...the labels have changed. Has CRPS ever been used to describe and/or diagnose your pain? If you live with this too I hope the following will provide some information for you.
This information is being shared for your educational and entertainment use only and to open the lines of communication with your doctor and treatment and possibly even those you share your life with. If you live with this too...share the information with your support system so they can learn more about you. Do not use this information to self-diagnose...you're not qualified...but please do speak to your doctor if you have questions.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - Topic Overview
What is complex regional pain syndrome? Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a term used to describe a group of painful conditions. Examples of earlier names for these conditions include reflex sympathetic dystrophy, causalgia, and Sudeck's atrophy.
Pain is the main symptom of CRPS. Most people have severe pain in an arm or a leg. Usually the pain is in a part of your body where you had surgery or an injury. The pain is usually constant and either shooting, sharp, or burning. The pain is much worse and it lasts much longer than you would expect for the kind of injury you had. Some people may not have had an injury or surgery before the pain started, but most people have.
This information is being shared for your educational and entertainment use only and to open the lines of communication with your doctor and treatment and possibly even those you share your life with. If you live with this too...share the information with your support system so they can learn more about you. Do not use this information to self-diagnose...you're not qualified...but please do speak to your doctor if you have questions.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - Topic Overview
What is complex regional pain syndrome? Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a term used to describe a group of painful conditions. Examples of earlier names for these conditions include reflex sympathetic dystrophy, causalgia, and Sudeck's atrophy.
Pain is the main symptom of CRPS. Most people have severe pain in an arm or a leg. Usually the pain is in a part of your body where you had surgery or an injury. The pain is usually constant and either shooting, sharp, or burning. The pain is much worse and it lasts much longer than you would expect for the kind of injury you had. Some people may not have had an injury or surgery before the pain started, but most people have.
Women in their mid-30s are more likely to get CRPS, but it can happen to anyone at any age.
CRPS will usually get better, either by itself or with treatment. More than 8 out of 10 people who have CRPS feel better, or are completely better, in 18 months. But for a few people, symptoms can last for many months or years.
What causes CRPS?
The cause of CRPS is not well understood. CRPS is a reaction the body has after an injury, and the reaction is more severe than would be expected. This reaction happens in the limb (arm or leg, usually) and in the brain. The nerves and skin in the arm or leg are affected and so are the nerves in the brain. CRPS, and the pain and disability that comes with it, is very real. CRPS is not "in your mind."
The pain usually starts after a limb or joint has had a serious injury, such as a broken bone, a gunshot wound, or a deep wound. The injury might also be caused by an accident, a fall, or surgery. It can even be caused by a minor injury such as a sprain. In about 1 out of 10 people, CRPS starts without an apparent reason.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of CRPS are usually only in one arm or leg and include:
You may feel as though the painful arm or leg doesn't belong to your body. You may wish you could cut off the painful limb. These are common feelings for people who have CRPS.
Like other conditions that cause chronic pain, CRPS can also cause sleeping problems, anxiety, mood swings, sadness, and depression.
When pain is extreme, some people who have CRPS think about death or suicide. If you or someone you care about talks about suicide or feels hopeless, get help right away.
How is CRPS diagnosed?
CRPS is not common, so diagnosis can be hard.
There's no one test to diagnose CRPS. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health and will give you a physical exam. The exam may include touching your skin or bending your joints in the area that hurts.
Your doctor might also compare the color and temperature of the painful arm or leg with the matching, healthy one. For instance, if your left arm hurts, your doctor will compare it to your right arm.
More tests may be needed to rule out other possible causes of your pain and to make a correct diagnosis.
Because CRPS can be hard to diagnose, your doctor may suggest you see a specialist, such as a neurologist, rheumatologist, or pain specialist.
How is it treated?
Treatment for CRPS is divided into four areas:
Pain management Medicine can be used to help with pain from CRPS. There are different medicines that may be tried. You may also have medicine to help you sleep.
Medicine is only part of the treatment for pain from CRPS. Most people with CRPS see a pain specialist or go to a pain management clinic. You may work with different people for the various parts of your pain management plan.
There will be times when your pain seems to be getting very bad. This is called a "pain flare," and it is normal in CRPS. A pain flare usually gets better after a few days or a week. During this time, you may need to have less intense physical therapy and may need additional pain medicine treatment.
The above article was copied directly from WebMD.com all rights belong to them.
CRPS will usually get better, either by itself or with treatment. More than 8 out of 10 people who have CRPS feel better, or are completely better, in 18 months. But for a few people, symptoms can last for many months or years.
What causes CRPS?
The cause of CRPS is not well understood. CRPS is a reaction the body has after an injury, and the reaction is more severe than would be expected. This reaction happens in the limb (arm or leg, usually) and in the brain. The nerves and skin in the arm or leg are affected and so are the nerves in the brain. CRPS, and the pain and disability that comes with it, is very real. CRPS is not "in your mind."
The pain usually starts after a limb or joint has had a serious injury, such as a broken bone, a gunshot wound, or a deep wound. The injury might also be caused by an accident, a fall, or surgery. It can even be caused by a minor injury such as a sprain. In about 1 out of 10 people, CRPS starts without an apparent reason.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of CRPS are usually only in one arm or leg and include:
- Pain that's much more severe and lasts much longer than what you would expect for the kind of injury you may have had.
- Skin that may be blotchy or shiny.
- Skin that may feel hotter or colder than other areas of your body.
- Swelling, joint stiffness, weakness, or shaking in the painful arm or leg.
- Sweating, numbness, or tingling in the painful arm or leg.
You may feel as though the painful arm or leg doesn't belong to your body. You may wish you could cut off the painful limb. These are common feelings for people who have CRPS.
Like other conditions that cause chronic pain, CRPS can also cause sleeping problems, anxiety, mood swings, sadness, and depression.
When pain is extreme, some people who have CRPS think about death or suicide. If you or someone you care about talks about suicide or feels hopeless, get help right away.
How is CRPS diagnosed?
CRPS is not common, so diagnosis can be hard.
There's no one test to diagnose CRPS. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health and will give you a physical exam. The exam may include touching your skin or bending your joints in the area that hurts.
Your doctor might also compare the color and temperature of the painful arm or leg with the matching, healthy one. For instance, if your left arm hurts, your doctor will compare it to your right arm.
More tests may be needed to rule out other possible causes of your pain and to make a correct diagnosis.
Because CRPS can be hard to diagnose, your doctor may suggest you see a specialist, such as a neurologist, rheumatologist, or pain specialist.
How is it treated?
Treatment for CRPS is divided into four areas:
- Pain management
- Physical rehabilitation (rehab)
- Counseling or psychotherapy
- Patient education and self-management
Pain management Medicine can be used to help with pain from CRPS. There are different medicines that may be tried. You may also have medicine to help you sleep.
Medicine is only part of the treatment for pain from CRPS. Most people with CRPS see a pain specialist or go to a pain management clinic. You may work with different people for the various parts of your pain management plan.
There will be times when your pain seems to be getting very bad. This is called a "pain flare," and it is normal in CRPS. A pain flare usually gets better after a few days or a week. During this time, you may need to have less intense physical therapy and may need additional pain medicine treatment.
The above article was copied directly from WebMD.com all rights belong to them.
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