Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that usually affects one part of your body, such as an arm or a leg. If you are experiencing unexplained pain, the team at Source Healthcare in Santa Monica, California can provide expert diagnosis knowledge and customized treatments to relieve your pain and restore your quality of life. Appointments are available by calling the practice or booking online today.
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What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
CRPS is a rare chronic pain syndrome. It usually affects one part of your body, such as an arm or leg, and can follow an injury. However, your pain is disproportionate to the severity of the initial injury and lasts longer than the injury.
There are two types of CRPS. Type 1 CRPS, also called reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), usually follows a minor injury that doesn’t cause nerve damage, like a sprained ankle. Type 2 CRPS develops after a more severe injury, surgery, or an infection that damages a nerve.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
This is a type of chronic, long-lasting, pain. In most cases, it develops in an arm or a leg that you have previously injured. With CRPS, you may have unexplained pain that won’t go away. It may be severe, and it may spread.
Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks
This procedure is an injection that numbs branches of nerves in your lower back. It helps doctors find and treat a number of problems linked to these nerves. Usually, a series of injections is needed to treat a problem.
What Are the Symptoms of CRPS?
Pain in a specific part of your body is the main symptom of CRPS. You may have a burning, shooting, or stabbing pain. The pain could also feel like electrical shocks.
Other CRPS symptoms include:
- Changes in skin temperature
- Swelling
- Skin color changes
- Fingernails or toenails change
- Skin appears thin or shiny
- Painful, stiff joints
- Lost muscle coordination
- Unusual movements or tremors
CRPS is often progressive, which means your symptoms worsen over time. The condition can eventually lead to mobility problems.
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How is CRPS Diagnosed?
Although there is not a specific test to identify CRPS, the doctors at Source Healthcare work tirelessly to determine the cause of your pain. In addition to physical exams, they use a variety of other tests to rule out other conditions.
For example, they may order:
- Blood tests
- Ultrasounds
- MRIs
- CT scans
- X-rays
- Electrodiagnostic testing
The team at Source Healthcare understands that it is frustrating to live with pain and not know what is causing it. They offer compassionate support combined with cutting-edge medical technologies and testing to find an accurate diagnosis as quickly as possible.
How is CRPS Treated?
Your doctor creates a customized treatment plan to alleviate your pain and restore your quality of life. They may prescribe medication or recommend nerve blocks or spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to reduce your pain.
Source Healthcare also actively participates in clinical research. The doctors provide emerging medical treatments and best practices before the treatments become widely available. The team is particularly interested in finding new ways to use regenerative medicine such as stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to heal the human body.
If you have unexplained pain, call Source Healthcare or schedule a consultation online today for dedicated, expert diagnosis skills and treatment.
