CRPS Specialist

What is CRPS?

CRPS, or complex regional pain syndrome, is a chronic condition associated with intense pain in your limbs. You may develop CRPS after an injury, surgery, or a heart attack. The cause isn’t always clear, but treatment can offer you relief.

What are the symptoms of CRPS?

If you have CRPS, you might experience the following signs and symptoms:

• Intense pain in your hands, feet, arms, or legs
• Changes in skin texture, color, or temperature
• Skin sensitivity
• Intense burning pain
• Joint swelling and stiffness
• Decreased range of motion
• Changes in nail or hair growth
• Muscle weakness, spasms, or tremors
  
  

Symptoms associated with CRPS may spread to other parts of your body or get worse over time. Sometimes they go away on their own, but they can return after bouts of remission.

How is CRPS diagnosed?

There’s no definitive test for CRPS. However, your provider can diagnose your condition after reviewing your symptoms and medical history. They might complete a physical exam, nerve tests, X-rays, MRIs, or other diagnostic imaging procedures.

How is CRPS treated?

Because there’s no cure for CRPS, treatment focuses on pain relief. Your personalized CRPS treatment might include:

Heat therapy

Applying heat to affected areas multiple times a day can offer symptom relief.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy can increase strength and range of motion when you have CRPS and alleviate pain.

Medications

Certain medicines can reduce CRPS inflammation and pain.

Electrical nerve stimulation

Applying electrical impulses to nerves using a nerve stimulator can diminish pain signals and alleviate discomfort.

Nerve block injections

Spinal injections help block pain signals from reaching your brain to offer CRPS relief. Your pain specialist numbs the area prior to each injection.

Spinal cord stimulation

The Houston Pain Specialist physicians can surgically implant a spinal cord stimulator near your spinal cord to interrupt pain signals traveling from your spinal cord to your brain.

Don’t live with chronic discomfort associated with CRPS. Schedule an appointment with Houston Pain Specialists over the phone or online to get started with your treatment today.