Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Treatment Specialist in San Francisco, CA
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain disorder that affects a limb following an injury, surgery, stroke, or heart attack. It is distinguished by prolonged or extreme pain and changes in skin color, temperature, or edema. Early identification and therapy are critical for improving outcomes and possibly lowering the severity of the disorder. Meet Dr. Robert Savala MD at Presidio Pain Relief for CRPS treatment.
For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 2000 Van Ness Ave, #208 San Francisco, CA 94109.
Pain comes in a variety of types, forms, and severities, and can affect people differently. One of the most complex types of pain is nerve pain, which is often caused by damage to a nerve. Nerve pain, also known as neuralgia, has many subtypes, including phantom limb syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia, and neuropathy; neuropathy itself has many different forms. In rare cases, people can develop complex regional pain syndrome from an injury that damages nerves, but with the right treatment, the prognosis is primarily propitious.
What is complex regional pain syndrome?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a medical illness that affects the nerves and muscles of the body. It is frequently started by limb injuries, but it can also be caused by surgery, infections, or cancer. This chronic, often excruciating neuropathic pain disease affects a limb or limb region due to nerve injury, resulting in constant pain. Aside from the nerves, CRPS can damage the lymphatic system, blood vessels, muscles, bones, and skin. CRPS can have a substantial impact on a person's life, but it can be properly controlled with a comprehensive treatment plan and a devoted care team.
What causes complex regional pain syndrome?
Although complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a recognized medical condition, its exact etiology (cause or set of causes) is still unclear. However, doctors have determined that CRPS typically develops within a month of an injury, including both minor and severe injuries. These can include:
Bone fractures
Sprains and strains
Burns
Cuts
While most people with these types of injuries recover without any significant long-term effects, people with CRPS develop pain that is much more severe and longer-lasting than what is considered normal. In severe cases, the pain can spread beyond the original injury site, oftentimes affecting an entire limb.
How is complex regional pain syndrome diagnosed?
Complex regional pain syndrome is suspected when a patient’s symptoms develop four to six weeks after limb trauma, the symptoms are regional (affecting an entire limb), and the symptoms cannot be fully explained by the initial trauma. To evaluate if a patient fulfills the CRPS diagnostic criteria, a CRPS diagnosis is made entirely based on medical history and physical examination. The diagnostic criteria of CRPS have four components:
The pain is disproportionally painful to any event that causes it
Symptoms occur in at least three of the four following categories:
Sensory (increase in sensitivity)
Vasomotor (temperature or color changes in skin)
Sudomotor/edema (sweating changes or swelling)
Motor/trophic (motor disability or changes in the hair, nails, and skin)
Signs are observable in at least two of the four categories above (sensory, vasomotor, sudomotor/edema, motor/trophic)
No other diagnosis can better explain the signs and symptoms
How is complex regional pain syndrome treated?
There are several different treatment options for complex regional pain syndrome; they can be divided into the following categories:
Medications — Many medications have been used to treat CRPS, from tricyclic antidepressants to topical and intravenous ketamine; treating CRPS with medication can lead to varying and somewhat unpredictable results.
Therapy — Both occupational and physical therapy play an important role in the treatment of CRPS as they can help to relearn certain movements and perform them without pain.
Interventional Therapies — Interventional therapies, such as sympathetic nerve blocks, are one of the most popular methods used to treat CRPS. These nerve blocks serve two important functions: in the formulation of a diagnosis as well as part of a treatment plan.
If you are experiencing complex regional pain syndrome, trust the professionals at Presidio Pain Relief to provide you with relief.
For more information, contact us or book an appointment with the experienced team at Presidio Pain Relief in San Francisco, California. We are conveniently located at 2000 Van Ness Ave, #208 San Francisco, CA 94109. We serve patients from Daly City CA, Sunset District CA, Bernal Heights CA, Bayview CA, Mission District CA, and surrounding areas.