What is CRPS?

• CRPS is a condition characterized by persistent and severe pain.
• It usually begins after an injury such as a fracture or after surgery.
• The exact cause of CRPS is unknown, but it may involve abnormal activity and inflammation of a specific class of nerves called “sympathetic nerves.”
• CRPS often affects the extremities (the feet, legs, hands or arms) and patients will often report the following symptoms:
  • Burning pain
  • Numbness
  • Sensitivity to light touch or clothing
  • Cold
  • Skin color changes
  • Changes in hair or nail growth
  • Difficulty moving the affected area

What services does the pain clinic offer?

• Help with the diagnosis of CRPS
• Medication management
• Nerve blocks including lumbar sympathetic plexus blocks
• Spinal cord stimulation or dorsal root ganglion stimulation
• Peripheral nerve stimulation

Where can I find more resources?

Online resources

• The National Institutes of Health
• The Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Association (RSDSA)