Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Dennis E Hughes, DO FACEP Reviewed 05/2023

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a pain syndrome that can be chronic and debilitating. It is divided into two subtypes and can result in significant physical and psychosocial...

DIAGNOSIS

Unprovoked pain is the hallmark of the condition, and the diagnosis of CRPS is excluded by the existence of conditions that would otherwise account for the degree of symptoms. Budapest clini...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

Discourage maladaptive behaviors (pain medication seeking, secondary gain). Principal of functional restoration is a stepwise and multidisciplinary approach. Early and aggres...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Weekly, to monitor progress and initiate additional modalities as needed

PATIENT EDUCATION

Counsel to remain active physically.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrom...

REFERENCES

Prasad A, Chakravarthy K. Review of complex regional pain syndrome and the role of the neuroimmune axis. Mol Pain. 2021;17:17448069211006617.

Mesaroli G, Hundert A, Birnie KA, et al. Scree...

ADDITIONAL READING

Eldufani J, Elahmer N, Blaise G. A medical mystery of complex regional pain syndrome. Heliyon. 2020;6(2):e03329. Published 2020 Feb 19.

CODES

ICD10

G90.52 Complex regional pain syndrome I of lower limb
G90.523 Complex regional pain syndrome I of lower limb, bilateral
G56.4 Causalgia of upper limb
G90.522 Complex regional pain syndrome I o...

CLINICAL PEARLS

A pain syndrome disproportioned to injury
Pain control and early mobility are the key to recovery.
Avoid use of opiate analgesics.
Use a multidisciplinary approach.

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