Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Little Rock, AR
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a type of chronic pain that most often affects an arm or a leg. It typically develops following an injury, surgery, stroke, or heart attack – and the intensity of the pain is out of proportion to the actual severity of the initial injury.
The cause of CRPS is not clear but is thought to be the result of a traumatic injury or an abnormality of the peripheral or central nervous system. Nevertheless, the sooner you are treated for the condition, the better your chances for improvement or remission.
CRPS Signs and Symptoms
- A constant burning or throbbing pain in the arm, leg, hand, or foot
- Swelling in the painful area
- A sensitivity to touch or cold
- Changes in your skin temperature that alternate between hot and cold
- Variations in skin color that might range from white to spotty to red or blue
- Changes in your skin’s texture, such as tenderness, thinness or shininess in the affected area
- Changes in hair and nail growth
- Joint stiffness, swelling, and damage
- Muscle spasms, tremors, weakness, and atrophy (loss of muscle mass)
- A decrease in your ability to move the affected body part
In some patients, the symptoms associated with CRPS go away on their own, while in others, they persist for months or even years. Occasionally, CRPS can spread from its point of origin to other parts of your body, such as other limbs.
If CRPS isn’t diagnosed and treated early, it may progress to more disabling symptoms, such as skin, bone, and muscle deterioration or muscle contracture (tightening). Consequently, your affected body part may contract into a fixed position.
CRPS can be diagnosed with a bone scan, X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or sympathetic nervous system test.
For Comprehensive CRPS Treatment, Contact Our Pain Management Doctors in Little Rock, AR
At Southern Regional Pain Services in Little Rock, Arkansas, we treat Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in any number of ways ranging from over-the-counter medications to prescribed physical therapy to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
To learn more about these and other treatment techniques for CRPS, contact Southern Regional Pain Services today at (501) 661-8290 to schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified anesthesiologists or nurse practitioner or use our secure online request an appointment form.