CRPS

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a form of severe, sustained, chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg. CRPS typically develops after an injury, a surgery, a stroke or a heart attack. The pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury.  The quality of pain is usually burning.  The can be associated with increased sweating of the affected limb.  This is known as sudomotor changes. Overtime, CRPS can adversely affect the function of the limb and the area may become deformed. 

CRPS is a complex disorder where your body learns to amplify and perpetuate the pain.  The pain experts, Drs. Ho and Dr. Branton, have modalities that can help break the vicious cycle of CRPS.    Dr. Branton, Dr. Ho and Meghan Chase, NP evaluate patients at the Pain Management Centers of New England, the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center. 

Call one of our three pain management locations in Danvers, Gloucester and Newburyport, Massachusetts for your comprehensive pain consultation.  Dr. Branton, Dr. Ho and Meghan Chase, NP evaluate CRPS patients at the Pain Management Centers of New England, the Beth Israel Lahey Health Care Center, and Addison Gilbert Hospital.

What area of the body does CRPS affect?

Complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS 1) is a form of chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg.

What are the symptoms of CRPS?

The symptoms of CRPS 1 include :

• Sensations of burning and stinging
• Sensitivity to heat or cold.  Pain produced by things that usually do not cause pain such as light touch
• Edema
• Changes in skin temperature — sweaty or cold at times
• Development of shiny thin skin
• Nail and hair changes
• Joint stiffness
• Sustained throbbing pain
• Tremors and muscle spasms
• Muscular shrinkage
• Reduced bone density
• Reduced function of affected limb

What type of injuries cause CRPS?

Trauma such as a bone fracture or surgery can cause CRPS.  Likewise a simple injury such as an ankle sprain can lead to CRPS.

I think I have CRPS.  What should I do?

Early diagnosis and treatment is extremely important in treating CRPS effectively.  Delayed treatment makes it harder to treat the severe pain. Physical therapy is an extremely important modality in CRPS treatment.   Multimodal therapies are usually required.  High frequency spinal cord stimulation, Nevro HFX, can effectively treat CRPS.

Thus if you have concerns about having CRPS or you know somebody suffering from chronic pain, please call or use or on-line scheduler to make your pain management consultation.  The physicians and advance practitioners at eh Pain Management Centers of New England have over 40 years of combined experience to bring the best pain treatment to our north shore and Merrimack Valley patients.