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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Don’t let complex regional pain syndrome control your life or limit your independence. At Compass Pain and Wellness, we specialize in identifying the underlying mechanisms of CRPS and delivering advanced therapies designed to calm the nervous system, restore function, and reduce chronic pain.
Overview
What Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that typically develops after an injury, surgery, stroke, or nerve damage, most commonly affecting the arms, hands, legs, or feet. The condition is characterized by persistent, severe pain that is disproportionate to the original injury, along with changes in skin color, temperature, swelling, and sensitivity.
CRPS occurs when the peripheral and central nervous systems become dysregulated, leading to abnormal pain signaling and inflammatory responses. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), CRPS involves dysfunction in the nervous system that causes prolonged pain and heightened sensitivity even after tissues have healed.
¹https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/complex-regional-pain-syndrome
Expert Analysis
Understanding CRPS
In CRPS, the nervous system enters a state of persistent hypersensitivity, meaning pain signals continue to fire even when there is no longer a clear injury present. This can lead to extreme sensitivity to touch, temperature changes, or even light pressure on the affected area.
Patients with CRPS may experience symptoms such as burning or stabbing pain, swelling, changes in skin color or temperature, muscle weakness, joint stiffness, and decreased mobility. Over time, untreated CRPS can lead to muscle atrophy, loss of function, and significant impairment in daily activities. The Cleveland Clinic notes that early diagnosis and treatment are critical for improving outcomes and preventing long-term complications.
²https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12051-complex-regional-pain-syndrome-crps
Triggers
CRPS often develops following trauma or injury that affects the nerves or surrounding tissues. Common triggers include fractures, sprains, surgical procedures, or nerve injuries. In some cases, even relatively minor injuries can lead to abnormal pain signaling that evolves into CRPS.
The condition is believed to involve a combination of inflammatory responses, abnormal nerve signaling, and dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system. These changes may cause increased sensitivity in the affected nerves, abnormal blood flow regulation, and exaggerated inflammatory responses that contribute to persistent pain and swelling.
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Differential Diagnosis
CRPS shares symptoms with several other neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. These may include peripheral neuropathy, nerve entrapment syndromes, radiculopathy originating from the spine, inflammatory arthritis, vascular disorders, and post-surgical nerve injuries.
At Compass Pain and Wellness, accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment. Our physicians utilize advanced diagnostic tools including structure-specific diagnostic ultrasound exams, MRI imaging, nerve conduction velocity testing, bloodwork, and detailed neurological examinations to identify the exact source of symptoms. By carefully evaluating nerve function and surrounding structures, we can determine whether pain is caused by CRPS or another condition requiring a different treatment strategy.
Solutions
At Compass Pain and Wellness, our approach to treating CRPS focuses on calming the nervous system, reducing inflammation, restoring nerve function, and improving mobility. Because CRPS involves complex interactions between nerves, joints, and surrounding tissues, treatment plans are highly individualized and often combine several advanced therapies.
Our multidisciplinary team works together to reduce nerve hypersensitivity, restore normal function, and help patients regain control over their daily activities.
Treatment options may include:
Epidural steroid injections
REGENERATIVE TREATMENTS
Get Started Today
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is one of the most complicated conditions to resolve.
Don’t chance it at a clinic that under-diagnoses and over-treats.
We’ll get you scheduled for a consultation with a diagnostic physician right away.
What Makes Compass Different
At Compass Pain and Wellness, we approach CRPS with the world’s most advanced diagnostic medicine. Our board-certified physicians have more than 20 years of experience treating complex chronic pain conditions and use advanced imaging and neurological testing to identify the precise mechanisms driving each patient’s pain.
Once the diagnosis is clear, we combine state-of-the-art regenerative medicine with comprehensive multidisciplinary care. Our physicians utilize platelet-rich plasma and cellular therapy, delivered with ultrasound and fluoroscopic precision, to target damaged tissues and support healing. In addition, patients benefit from coordinated care that includes physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, and advanced technologies such as photobiomodulation, PEMF, and shockwave therapy. This integrated approach allows us to address both the neurological and structural aspects of CRPS.
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Outlook
Living with chronic headaches can be exhausting, especially when traditional treatments only provide temporary relief. The encouraging news is that cervicogenic headaches are highly treatable when the underlying problem in the cervical spine is properly identified and addressed.
At Compass Pain and Wellness, our mission is to combine the world’s best diagnostic medicine with advanced regenerative and interventional treatments to help patients overcome chronic pain conditions. You don’t have to live with recurring headaches caused by neck dysfunction. With the right diagnosis and personalized treatment plan, lasting relief is possible. Schedule a consultation today and take the first step toward a life with fewer headaches and better movement.
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