Everyone feels pain from time to time from injuries and other issues. But if you have complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), pain can be much more intense, more frequent, and even occur spontaneously, without an identifiable cause.
CRPS typically occurs after an injury, usually to a limb. Instead of healing normally, patients with CRPS experience severe, lingering pain, often accompanied by other symptoms, like swelling, changes in skin color and texture, heightened sensitivity to touch, and decreased function in the limb.
While researchers don’t know for sure what causes CRPS, they believe it’s associated with abnormal responses in your central or peripheral nervous system (or both). Unusual immune system responses and even your genes may also play a role. Relatively uncommon, CRPS affects as many as 200,000 Americans every year.
CRPS can be difficult to treat, requiring specialized care and ongoing management. Seeking care as soon as possible is essential for controlling pain and other symptoms.
Zaid Malik, MD, is an experienced interventional pain management specialist, helping CRPS patients at Superior Pain Relief find a long-term solution and improve their quality of life. In observance of CRPS Awareness Month, our team is using this month’s blog to review treatment options that can help you manage your CRPS and find some much-needed relief.
The specialized exercises and related activities of physical therapy aim to relieve discomfort and enhance your body’s normal healing responses. Therapy can help build strength and flexibility in the affected limb, improving circulation and mobility while decreasing sensitivity in the affected area.
Medications help relieve both pain and the inflammatory response underlying it. Over-the-counter medications may help in milder cases, while more severe cases benefit from prescription medications. Anticonvulsant medicines and antidepressants may help as well.
Nerve blocks use medication to block nerve pathways that send pain messages to your brain. Blocks can also be used to pinpoint the specific nerves involved in CRPS symptoms for therapy that’s more focused and effective.
Pain pumps are small, implantable devices that deliver pain medication to the fluid that surrounds your spinal cord. You use the pump to control the amount of medication that’s delivered. These pumps provide both localized and systemic effects to help manage your symptoms more effectively and improve your overall quality of life.
Psychotherapy sessions help you learn ways to manage your pain while helping deal with the anxiety and depression that often accompany chronic pain. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be especially effective in helping people improve their coping skills by learning new ways to respond to symptoms.
CRPS affects people in different ways, and most people benefit from a multifaceted approach to care that employs several treatment options. To learn how Dr. Malik and his team can help you find relief for your CRPS symptoms, request an appointment online or over the phone today with the team at Superior Pain Relief in Houston, Baytown, Willis, and The Woodlands, Texas.
