Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Dennis E. Hughes, DO, FAAFP, FACEP Reviewed 06/2018

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 have significant physical and psychosocial shor...

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. Clinical diagn...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

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

MEDICATION

First Line

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Weekly, to monitor progress and initiate additional modalities as needed

PATIENT EDUCATION

Stress need to remain active physically.
Instruct carefully about any pre...

REFERENCES

Lo JC, Cavazos J, Burnett C. Management of complex regional pain syndrome. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2017;30(3):286–288. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]

Pons T, Shipton EA, Williman...

ADDITIONAL READING

Goh EL, Chidambaram S, Ma D. Complex regional pain syndrome: a recent update. Burns Trauma. 2017;5:2. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]

CODES

ICD10

G90.50 Complex regional pain syndrome I, unspecified
G90.519 Complex regional pain syndrome I of unspecified upper limb
G90.529 Complex regional pain syndrome I of unspecified lower limb
G56.4...

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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