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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Louisiana Pain Specialists Our Services Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Louisiana Pain Specialists - - Pain Management

Louisiana Pain Specialists

Pain Management & Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation located in New Orleans, Kenner, Baton Rouge, Marrero, Laplace, & Metairie, LA

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful condition affecting the arms, hands, legs, or feet, causing intense pain. The pain may occur after nerve or tissue damage in your extremity. The team at Louisiana Pain Specialists in Kenner, Metairie, Laplace, Baton Rouge, Marrero, and New Orleans, Louisiana, are experts at diagnosing and treating complex regional pain syndrome. Call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Q & A

What is complex regional pain syndrome?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful condition causing intense, prolonged pain in your arm, hand, leg, or foot after an injury to the extremity. The pain may be acute or chronic. 

People with CRPS experience spontaneous or extreme pain from light pressure or touch. 

In most cases, the pain occurs from damage to the peripheral nerve fibers that carry pain messages to your brain, triggering an excess in pain signal firing. The nerve damage also causes inflammation in the affected area. 

What are the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome?

Complex regional pain syndrome symptoms vary in type and severity. Common symptoms include:

  • Pain
  • Skin sensitivity
  • Intense burning pain 
  • Change in skin temperature or appearance
  • Swelling or stiffness in the joints
  • Abnormal sweating
  • Abnormal hair or nail growth
  • Muscle wasting
  • Bone loss
  • Muscle weakness

If you have these symptoms and suspect you may have CRPS, schedule an appointment at Louisiana Pain Specialists for an evaluation. 

How is complex regional pain syndrome diagnosed?

There’s no single test for diagnosing CRPS. Your provider at Louisiana Pain Specialists conducts a comprehensive examination that may focus more on ruling out potential causes of your symptoms in order to diagnose complex regional pain syndrome.

Your provider asks detailed questions about your pain, including type and location, when it started, the underlying cause (if known), and things that worsen your pain. Then, your provider reviews your medical history and performs a physical exam.

The team at Louisiana Pain Specialists runs diagnostic testing such as nerve conduction studies, imaging tests, and blood work to help formulate the correct diagnosis. 

Additionally, your provider may also request an MRI and a bone scan to identify CRPS-related changes in the bones to help make a correct diagnosis. 

How is complex regional pain syndrome treated?

The Louisiana Pain Specialists team takes a balanced approach to pain management. They create individualized plans for CRPS using a combination of traditional, interventional, and advanced pain management treatments. 

Your treatment plan may include:

  • Medication
  • Physical therapy
  • Sympathetic nerve block
  • Spinal cord stimulation

Getting an early diagnosis and treatment plan in place may improve your chances of a full recovery from your CRPS. 

To schedule an appointment with the pain management experts at Louisiana Pain Specialists, call the office nearest you or book online today.