Causes of CRPS

The exact causes for CRPS still continue to elude the grasp of professional medical practitioners and specialists. Most of them agree that is does not have a single, definite cause. It is a medical condition that is actually a combination of several other medical complications that share the same symptoms. Having said that, CRPS has often been found to inflict a person who has suffered from:

• some kind of trauma to the limb (could be a gun shot wound or shrapnel blast)
• surgery
• heart attacks
• fractures
• infections

Symptoms of CRPS

Some of the symptoms of CRPS include:

• intense, burning pain often targeting extremities such as arms, legs, hands or feet
• changes in the skin’s color, texture and sensitivity
• changes in nail growth patterns
• changes in hair growth patterns
• stiffness and swelling in the affected joints
• disability to move affected body part

Sometimes the pain begins in a finger or toe and travels through the entire arm or leg. The above mentioned symptoms can vary in terms of length and severity. The progression of the disease could be of any of the following types:

• Type 1: intense, burning pain where the injury has occurred. Rapid nail and hair growth maybe noticed. Muscle spasm and stiffness of joints may also occur. The patient might also experience vasospasm or constriction of blood vessels which can lead to skin discoloration or variation of temperature.
• Type 2: The pain begins to worsen and intensify. Bones become soft and nails tend to become brittle and cracked. Joints stiffen and muscles begin to weaken further.
• Type 3: This type is quite severe and the patient may begin to suffer from restrictions in terms of mobility. The pain spread rapidly and begins to affect the entire limb. Marked muscle loss also sets in and the changes in bones and skin often become irreversible.

Some of the other problems faced by patients suffering from CRPS are insomnia, lack of concentration, forgetfulness, irritability, anxiety and depression.

Coping With CRPS

As mentioned earlier, CRPS is a debilitating disease and can often take a very severe toll on both the physical and mental well-being of the patient. The following pointers can be kept in mind while trying to cope with this chronic disease.

• The intense pain caused due to CRPS can make the patients suffer from sleepless nights. To counter this problem, the patient can try using over-the-counter medication to get some sleep. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor before one begins to take this medication in order to avoid complications that may arise due to multiple drug dosages. The patient can also try having a warm bath with relaxing scents before going to bed.
• Another problem that arises due to the burning pain traumatizing CRPS patients is their forgetfulness and lack of concentration. This can be tackled to some extent by using a handy notebook or sticky notes to jot down important events or other aspects that may slip their minds.
• It is not uncommon for CRPS patients to experience irritability and anxiety. This often leads to conflicts with loved ones, family members and friends. Sometimes, the feelings of guilt may escalate, leading to depression. Patients feel alienated from their family and friends and this heightens their sense of loneliness and depression. Anger and frustration can set in and make the patient feel hopeless and depressed.  To avoid this, patients can have an emotional outlet in the form of a journal or diary. Family and friends play a very vital role in waging this war against a rather painful disease. They need to be loving, sympathetic and supportive. If the need arises, the patient can also seek support from a therapist or psychologist.

People with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) may experience a few or maybe a combination of the above mentioned emotional problems. But with proper preparation, care, and assistance CRPS patients can handle these problems with hope and courage.

One key thing that families affected with CRPS needs is trust and honesty in communication. It won’t hurt for you to open up to your family, especially since they’ll probably feel vulnerable and helpless as well. Remember that this is a disease that is hard to pinpoint, and harder to cure, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that your family feels like they can’t do anything. It’ll help both of you if you an open, honest heart-to-heart, as long as you don’t make the mistake of venting out your anger and frustrations on your family member.

Another thing you should always keep in mind is that money is power. The more you know about the subject, the more you can do about it. Take the time as a family to go online and look at the many sites dedicated to CRPS. You can even go together to support groups so that you’ll know how to act as a family in facing the disease.

Virtually, this disease is here to stay, and any amount of cajoling or threatening from your family members is not going to make it go away. This is the moment when you need your family the most, to guide, to support and to advocate. Family members should always keep in mind that this is not a joke, and you are not milking this. You are really in pain, and the constant medications and treatments are a burden on you, as well. In return, maybe you can help out as little as well. Put a little effort into being just a bit more affectionate towards them, do small chores around the house, basically just show them you’re grateful.

Don’t forget to also bring your children into the fold, as they are often overlooked in such matters. Once you find your balance, take the time to talk to your kids, and tell them as much as you think they can handle. Don’t underestimate them too much.

Older children can be even more of a blessing, as they can understand more about your condition and have all the willingness to help out, but without all the resentment and bitterness. Laying it out in a way that they can understand can help a lot. Younger children need to have it simpler. Tell them that even mommies and daddies can get sick, and that you need their help to get better. They’ll love doing whatever they can for you, no matter how big or small. It makes them feel good to know that they can take care of their parents too.

And for those family members that are just a big headache, just let them be and take them into stride. Find time to set them aside and talk to them sincerely. You can even ask if they can go with you to a doctor’s appointment so that they can learn more about the disease firsthand. Perhaps then, they will get what you’re trying to tell them.

CRPS is not something that you can take on your own. You’ll do a lot better knowing your family is there to support you as it helps you not only heal faster physically, it also eases the emotional wounds.

1.Pain in your Body

If compared, a pain from a CRPS injury is much worse than the pain from the original injury. It can range through all the different kinds of pain, from burning to throbbing to stabbing to crushing. All these kinds of pain are caused by different trauma; however, they can all be symptoms of CRPS. The pain is also inconsistent; it can be quite mild one moment, then greatly fluctuate and intensify the next. However, it is proposed that nervous system hyperactivity causes CRPS pain. This can be caused by even a small injury or surgery, and that causes the complete cycle of pain to start.

2.Tenderness

The tenderness that is associated with CRPS falls through the whole spectrum. It can be very mild to very intense. In medical speak, this tenderness is termed as Allodynia. You can feel pain from normal, everyday stimuli that does not cause pain generally, such as a light breeze. You will feel a slight twinge of pain even after the stimulus is gone, and this remaining pain is called Hyperpathia.

At first, you may or may not feel this kind of tenderness. Coupled with the pain, this is the hardest symptom of CRPS to treat. Should the tenderness be really intense, some people will begin to shy away from all movement and activities that require movement, which will then lead to further complications such as muscle atrophy or weakening.

3.Temperature of the Skin

The skin is a very good indicator of what is happening to the body. It can show fluctuating temperatures, ranging everything to freezing cold to slightly cold, to warm, to burning up.

Cold temperature of the skin is thought to be caused by blood vessel constriction. This is done to preserve core heat, but the price is that is limits circulation to your limbs.

4.Color of the skin

The color of your skin will give you a very big clue of what is happening to the internal temperature of your body, as the color changes will the fluctuating temperatures. If the skin is hot, the color will range from light to deep red. If it is cold, it could be any color from blue, purple, pink or a combination of them. It could also be so pale, it could be quite colorless.

Once a limb is down, this discoloration becomes more apparent. It becomes darker in color. Once you stand however, the coloring returns to normal. This is thought to happen because sufficient circulation has been returned to the limb.

5.Inflammation or Puffiness

The swelling is also hard to pinpoint, as it can range from hardly noticeable to very severe. It also be either localized to one part, or have a large point of the limb swollen.

Again, CRPS is very hard because the symptoms listed here are but a few of them. There are so many more out there that also point to CRPS. You can even be affected on an emotional level by the sickness. This article is the first in a series that will explore all the signs of Complex Region Pain Syndrome.

The following are the reported symptoms of RSD; severe burning pain, stiff joints, rapid and abnormal growth of nail and hair, plus muscle spasms. Another effect of RSD is the constriction of blood vessels which in turn causes vasospasm.

As mentioned above, there are two types of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. RSD is the first one and the other is called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy which is also known as Causalgia. The difference between the two is that in Causalgia, the affected areas reveal nerve lesions.

There are no known causes for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Patients with CRPS give no prominent reasons for contracting the illness. However, the possible reasons and causes for are injuries, diseases, and surgery. There are patients that do not have any of these reasons but they suffer from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It is hard to pinpoint the reasons why people still suffer from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

As mentioned, medical malpractice and negligence can cause RSD. There are many lawyers who deal with personal injury cases. They help these RSD victims recover their money for the costs incurred. A big part of contracting RSD stems from the negligence of the doctors and nurses in the health care clinics and the nursing homes. Their mistakes include surgical errors, wrong prescription and medication and non-sterilization of needles and medical equipments. These can be causes of RSD.

Personal injury laws dictate that that professional negligence and medical malpractice are offenses. The victims of these acts can file lawsuits and can therefore claim compensation for their damages. These damages are broken down into medical expenses, restricted lifestyle, post-injury unemployment and mental stress. Majority of the states have medical malpractice lawyers who offer help to the victims of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. States have varying personal injury laws so it would be best if one seeks the help of a specialized lawyer.

Lawyers with extensive experience in defending RSD victims can greatly be of benefit to you. They help you by checking all possibilities leading to your pain and by using valid claims to reveal the real cause of your problem. In addition, these lawyers will give you the advice to seek a specialist who will diagnose the precise causes of the disease. This can better support your case. Finding the truth is going to be your best defense. Seek the help of a personal injury lawyer to help alleviate the pain of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Your attorney will be the one to guide you during these rough times. Your recovery will come faster.

Skin disorders are also considered as symptoms of Complex Region Pain Syndrome. At the very least, they are aggravating. However, another life threatening complication is the ulcers, which can become very dangerous if they become more severe. Many sufferers of CRPS experience these daily, but with a little care and a little maintenance, some of them are manageable.


Common Problems of the Skin

Skin is a very good indicator of color and temperature. If they color and/or temperature of the body changes, the skin can be a reliable way to tell what is really happening in the body. If the core temperature of the body suddenly drops, and this can even reach freezing temperatures, the color of the skin can be blue, pink, purple, or a combination of all of them, which is called mottled. It can even feel cold when touched. When the temperature soars, however, the skin feels hot, and the color is red or orange or shades of the same. All these are caused by blood vessel constriction.

When a person has CRPS, the skin often becomes brittle, thin and easily bruised. This is caused by tissue atrophy. The thinning of the skin causes cuts to appear more often in your skin, even by object that are not sharp at all such as rims of glasses and edges of boxes.

CRPS sufferers may also have dark discolored spots on their skin, and this is a patch of thick skin that may peel. This is a common result of a limb being unused for a long time, due to the pain that accompanies using it. Improper skin care can be the result of ultra-sensitive skin. Due to CRPS, even the lightest touch of the breeze can be agony on the skin of those who are sick.

Where the skin breaks down, ulcers can form. They will require further treatment should they become infected. There are a lot of treatments available such as creams for the mildest cases, up to amputation for the most drastic ones. If one has enough cash, one can opt for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, or HBOT, as it can help ulcers of several sizes and degrees heal.

Another common problem is dry, flaky skin, and this can be either localized or on the whole body. You can opt to hydrate your skin by drinking a lot of fluids and using moisturizers and creams.

If you have CRPS and start to get sports, you should definitely closely monitor them. Benign spots can become sores, and even the smallest sore will take a long time to heal. Worst-case scenario, the sore will develop into an ulcer. Once a sore does not heal or become smaller, you should consult your doctor immediately.

For some people with CRPS, even if the temperature is warm, they can get goose bumps. This is due to small muscles called erector pili muscles pulling the hairs on your skin, making them stand straight. This is called the pilomotor reflex.

CRPS even affects your sweat glands. Some people can sweat very profusely, and this can become an embarrassing situation. Once this occurs, you can take drugs such as Lyrica to help your condition. On the other hand, if you do not sweat at all, you should see your doctor immediately.

Itching, another symptom, can also be localized or affecting the whole body. Be careful when you scratch, as this can leave a lingering, burning pain on your hypersensitive skin. Also, a very light scratch can already result in tearing your skin.

Epsom salt soaks can help in this situation as it not only helps in making the swelling go down, but also promotes the growth of new, healthy skin.

There are a lot more mix-matched symptoms of Complex Region Pain Syndrome, many of which are a lot more complicated. If you exercise a lot of care, most of the skin problems can be handled. It would be a good idea to monitor your skin daily, and report to your doctor immediately should any change occur. Remember that your immune system is severely compromised, and any small wound or sore that is delayed in healing can easily result into something much more serious.

A plethora of options for medications exist for pain control and other symptoms associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Medications that are given are classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, antidepressants, anti-convulsions, and muscle relaxers.

Nerve blocks, often performed by pain management doctors or anesthesiologists, are a common option for CRPS patients. Common blocks like the SGB or Stellate Ganglion Block and the LSB or Lumbar Sympathetic Block are done for pain in the arms, legs, and feet. These are performed in an operating room using a fluoroscope, also known as a “live x-ray” that guide the surgeon to the target nerve area to block.
Physical Therapy is also an integral part of any pain or healing regiment. It helps keep the affected area moving and responding to stimuli and strengthens muscles. Unmoved muscle may atrophy and this can cause severe pain for the patient. Touch sensitivity can also be solved by desensitization routines that can be included in a therapy regiment. Aquatic Therapy can also be helpful for joint pain sufferers as it removes the pressure of the patients’ weight on themselves. Warm water is highly preferred as cold water may sometimes bring pain to CRPS sufferers.

Lidocaine infusions, ketamine infusions, and continuous epidural infusions are available for those who do not want to undergo surgery. Infusions are given intravenously while being monitored by a doctor or an allied health professional. The initial treatments take about an hour, the purpose of which is to ascertain if there are any side effects and if the treatment properly removes the pain. Ketamine comas are not approved for use in the United States.

For those with severe symptoms, doctors may suggest these surgical options, implantable spinal cord stimulators, morphine pump or symphathectomy. Great care should be taken before undergoing these procedures. It is best to consult your doctor and other patients who have gone under these procedures to see if these can work for your lifestyle.

Natural and Holistic training and treatment regiments may provide relief, healing, and relaxation to a patient’s life. Examples of these are acupuncture, massage, herbal supplements, tai chi, and qi gong. One can eliminate certain foods and drinks that can cause or add to the pain.

A psychiatrist, psychologist, or psychotherapist can help a patient deal with the imminent stress and emotional problems a CRPS sufferer will encounter. It is also helpful to inform family and friends about the patient’s situation and symptoms so that they will be prepared for any changes in schedules and routines of the patient.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a manageable and treatable condition. With proper information, preparation and research, one can be ready to face the changes and procedures that a CRPS sufferer needs to face.

People who are afflicted with this disease and the doctors who are trying to treat them are really having a hard time in the treatments because the disease, whether mild or severe, is very stubborn. There are times when conventional medicine such as drugs and physical therapy does not work, and this is when people can turn to the non-conventional healing practices. Acupuncture is one method where people suffering from RSD and CRPS have said that it helps ease the pain that they feel.

RSD and CRPS usually target areas that bear a load of physical activity such as the back, the limbs and the bones, and because they are so weak, they can swell up severely, looking very bruised. This area becomes very painful when touched if the person is suffering from RSD. Even the deeper muscles, nerves and bones will feel a stinging pain if pressure is applied to the area. So sensitivity is so severe, even the light touch of cloth can create agony.

Movement will be severely limited, and physical touch from other people will become hard to endure because of the resulting pain. Sports and other physical activities such as exercise and leisure activities will be virtually impossible. This is a very hard thing for active and outgoing people to face because it’s a radical change in lifestyle.

The reason why acupuncture greatly helps in easing pain from RDS and CRPS is that it is especially for joints and limbs, which are the very areas that the diseases will affect. This Ancient Chinese treatment is already popular these days, even with non-RDS and CRPS sufferers because it helps the body get back into gear. While this sound ridiculous the healthy effects of acupuncture has been proven by science, unlike other modern treatments whose effect and side effects have not been fully discovered. Acupuncture may be able to succeed in easing RSD where other treatments have not.

If you’re scared of the thought of having needles stuck into your skin if you take acupuncture, then make sure you read up. Remember, the more you know about something, the less likely you’ll fear it. At least you’ll know what you’re getting into, and you’ll be able to weigh the pain against the benefits of acupuncture. Once you’ve decided to do it, then make sure you’re truly ready, and that the person that is going to administer the treatment is a licensed professional. Then, you’ll be one your way to a tomorrow less dominated by Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Complex Region Pain Syndrome.

Fiction # 1: Complex Region Pain Syndrome is a very rare disease. You have a small chance of getting it. It is also a new disease.

Fact: Substantiated reports of CRPS have been recorded since 143 years ago. It was during the Civil War when Doctor Silas Mitchell Weir and his contemporaries first wrote about it. It was given many names such as Shoulder-hand Syndrome, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Post-traumatic Dystrophy, to name a few. The term Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy was junked during 1995 when the International Association for the Study of Pain, or IASP, feels that RSD did not truly cover the signs and symptoms that the illness presented. They were the ones that coined the term “Complex Regional Pain Syndrome”.

Fiction # 2: CRPS is a localized disorder, and will not spread.

Fact: In as many as 73% of the recorded and confirmed cases of CRPS, the pain actually started in one part of the body, and then started to spread. In the worst cases, it actually affected completely healthy internal organs as well.

Fiction # 3: CRPS is a relatively quick disorder, and can be gone in as little as 6 months.

Fact: CRPS is like riding a bicycle. Once you get it, it never leaves you. At present, there is no cure, only treatment and maintenance to relieve pain, and even this does not work for everyone. There are a very few lucky ones who experienced remission, but found that even little to no stimulus at all could trigger a relapse.

Fiction # 4: The pain of CRPS cannot be alleviated by opioids.

Fact: Studies have shown that the use of opioids does actually help patients suffering from CRPS. Opioids can lower the level of pain significantly, allowing patients to be able to receive physical therapy. In some cases, they can even help the person lead a pretty normal life. Many patients would not be able to survive or bear the level of pain that they would feel if they were not given opioid treatments.

Fiction # 5: It’s all in the mind. CRPS pain is a psychiatric one.

Fact: The pain that a patient feels can actually register on a pain scale, and the symptoms that accompany it are also very tangible. The signs of the pain are all very visible, such as changes in temperature, color and bruising. Limb atrophy or contracture can also be seen. This myth is quite prevalent, as even some medical professionals put stock into it.

Fiction # 6: CRPS can only be caused by major injuries.

Fact: Records show that, surprisingly, CRPS is most often caused by small injuries or surgeries. The most common reasons given when asked the CRPS cause were sprains, broken bones and minor surgeries such as carpal tunnel surgery and removing a foot neuroma.

Fiction # 7: A definite sign to know if you don’t have CRPS is if you don’t get relief when you use a sympathetic nerve block.

Fact: Just because it doesn’t get affected, doesn’t mean it’s not CRPS. It could mean that your pain is what is called as SIP, or Sympathetic Independent Pain. For those who are suffering from CRPS that do get relief from sympathetic nerve blocks, they are suffering from SMP, or Sympathetic Maintained Pain. If you get a series of blocks, you may put your CRPS into remission. Also, it can result in longer periods of being pain-free. Because this myth is also a widespread one, many people have delayed seeking this kind of treatment, believing that they do not have CRPS.

Always take everything you hear with a grain of salt, and remember that the best weapon is knowledge. It won’t hurt to read and talk to an expert about Complex Region Pain Syndrome so that you’re better prepared to deal with it, and the life that comes with it.

The victims of Complex regional pain syndrome are looking for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome treatment that can alleviate their pain. Common treatments include physical therapy, muscle relaxants and painkillers. Since this ailment is not reactive to most treatments, most of the patients undergo unconventional methods. One of these is acupuncture.

This method is not that popular because it was not always backed-up by extensive research and studies. However, a significant number of patients who have CRPS turn to Chinese acupuncture. It serves to be effective to this people because it lessens the pain by specifically targeting the afflicted parts of the body that feels extreme pain.
Acupuncture involves a lot of needles so patients are initially reluctant to try it out. These needles are stuck in the parts of bodies that suffer from Complex regional pain syndrome. There is really nothing to worry about getting this method to help relieve of your pain. Just make sure that the person doing the process is an expert. Remember to relax and stay calm. Pretty soon you will feel a big difference. Pain is decreased and acupuncture is an effective Complex regional pain syndrome treatment.

However, the only thing that worries RSD patients is the needles that are used in this Chinese medication; a series of needles are to be stuck in parts of your body were pain resides. Better make sure that the person doing this medication knows exactly what he or she is doing for the patients to be secured from the pain of needles. As long as you stay calm when doing this medication and the person doing it is experienced, there is no need to worry. After the medication, you will feel a lot better.

Our bodies usually experience body pains which stems from the bones, muscles and joints. The affected areas would swell and the skin will turn purple or look like a bruise. For someone with Complex regional pain syndrome, that specific area will be extremely sensitive to touch. The victim will feel a severe burning pain from his inner muscles, bones or joints. A slight touch of a blanket can trigger such pain. This is how extreme sensitivity to simple movements can bring forth such torment.

The hardest part of having Complex Regional Pain Syndrome comes from the fact that your normal everyday activities will be hindered. You may not be able to walk around that much anymore. A simple touch from another person will hurt you. Any kind of sport or activity will no longer be enjoyed.

The actual cause of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS is unknown but it is related to the sympathetic nervous system. This system includes the areas along the spinal cord. It also controls the opening and the closing of your blood vessels and sweat glands. CRPS also goes by the following names: Causalgia, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome or RDDS, Sudeck’s Atrophy and Shoulder-hand syndrome. As for the last one, it does hit the shoulders and the hands as well as the feet.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is the result of injuries to the bones, nerves, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Even a minor thing like a sprain can cause CRPS. However, an estimated 25% of people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome did not have injuries as their causes.

There are many questions inside my head. What exactly are the symptoms and how can CRPS be diagnosed? Can it be treated and is it curable? Here are some answers together with some important information that were gathered by the Arthritis Foundation.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome has 3 overlapping stages in the onset of its course.

The first stage occurs when the specific area becomes painful and tender and also when it begins to swell. You begin to see changes in the skin of the affected area. In my case, it turned purple. Other report sweating, abnormal hair and nail growth plus stiffness.

There is constant aching, burning, numbness and tingling for the second stage. These can happen because the weather changed or even the changes in texture and movements of your clothes. As for my condition, my nails became brittle and my skin turned waxy. X-ray results revealed that the bones became thinner. I am also suffering from muscle spasms.

Stage three occurs when there are permanent changes. Your joints and limb functions are derailed.

Doctors mentioned that due to my rheumatoid arthritis, CRPS happened to me. Due to the accident where my foot had to be in a cast that bore weight, the nerve endings reacted negatively.

Just like any other syndromes, early prevention is the key for complete recovery. I saw an orthopedic specialist but he wrongly assumed that all I needed was just to regain mobility. I still had painful muscle spasms every day and every night. It was a burning pain that runs through my knees and down to my legs.

I told my doctor about all these during our regular appointments. He consulted with the head podiatrist. Physical Therapy was also in his list for me. I had to take prednisone for a month to reduce the pain as it slows down the recovery time.

I learned that CRPS is not curable. It is only with careful prevention that one can lessen the risk of permanent damage. For some people, recovery from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is possible. There are still unlucky ones who do not recover at all.

What are the treatments available? The list includes pain killers, physical therapy, muscle relaxants and even steroid-use. For the sever cases of CRPS, there is the use of TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator unit. This gadget relieves pain by blocking nerve impulses.

Follow your program religiously. This means regular medication intake and doing the required exercises. Hopefully, by doing these methods, you can lead a normal and functional life.