Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

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. CRPS can happen to anyone at any age. CRPS isn't the same for all people. Many have mild symptoms and slowly get better over time. But some people may not recover and may be left with long-lasting pain and disability. For more information on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome click here.