Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

As many as 200,000 people in the United States are diagnosed each year with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). If you experience persistent burning or throbbing pain in your arms or legs, you can undergo comprehensive diagnostic testing at Palm Beach Pain Institute. As a board-certified pain management physician, Marcie Merson, MD, uses the latest treatments to ease the intensity and frequency of your symptoms. Dr. Merson also coordinates a plan to prevent muscle loss and other CRPS complications. Call the office in Delray Beach, Florida, to schedule a complex regional pain syndrome evaluation, or book a consultation online today. 

What is complex regional pain syndrome?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a type of chronic pain that can develop after surgery, an injury, or a cardiac event. This severe pain is out of proportion to the severity of the original trauma and most often affects the legs and arms.

While CRPS isn’t well understood, it may result from damage to the peripheral or central nervous system. CRPS pain is manageable with an accurate diagnosis and ongoing treatment.

Palm Beach Pain Institute specializes in personalized treatment plans for adults and adolescents who have complex regional pain syndrome. Dr. Merson uses nonsurgical therapies to bring your pain under control and to prevent your condition from getting worse.

What are the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome?

The symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome can vary from person to person. Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Palm Beach Pain Institute if you experience issues like:

• Swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Muscle spasms or tremors
• Burning or throbbing pain
• Increased sensitivity to cold or touch

CRPS can also cause changes in your skin color and texture and interfere with the growth of your hair and nails.

Dr. Merson uses a physical exam and X-rays or other imaging tests to confirm CRPS and rule out other chronic pain conditions.

How is complex regional pain syndrome treated?

Early treatment of complex regional pain syndrome can bring your condition under control and prevent additional episodes of pain and other symptoms.

Dr. Merson designs a treatment plan that may include one or more therapies like:

• Pain relievers
• Antidepressants
• Physical therapy
• Corticosteroid injections
• Nerve blocks

In more serious cases, Dr. Merson may suggest spinal cord stimulation, a treatment where she implants a small generator along your spinal cord. The generator sends electrical impulses into spinal nerves to disrupt pain signals before they reach your brain.

Intrathecal pain pumps may also be an option for controlling chronic CRPS pain. This treatment uses an implantable pump to deliver pain-relieving medications into your spinal cord fluid.

Call Palm Beach Pain Institute to schedule an evaluation for complex regional pain syndrome symptoms, or request a consultation online today.