Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a nervous system malfunction that you may not have heard of unless you or someone you know has been diagnosed with it. CRPS is a chronic condition where a person feels pain in one or more of their limbs after an injury.

If you have recently had an injury and find that you are having pain in one or more of your limbs, check to make sure it is not CRPS. After a CRPS diagnosis, you probably want to get as much information as you can about the condition. Here are the facts about CRPS:

CRPS Usually Affects the Arms or Legs After Injury or Incident

Your arms and legs are the typical areas that CRPS could impact. It most often occurs after an injury or incident like stroke, heart attack or surgical procedure.

You Should Begin Treatment as Early as You Can

If you are able to begin treatment as early as possible, it will increase your chances of effectively treating it into possible remission. Pay attention to your symptoms and do not ignore the signs of CRPS.

As soon as you recognize CRPS symptoms, get help right away. A specialist can help you manage the symptoms, relieve the pain and keep the condition from getting worse.

Symptoms of CRPS

The symptoms of CRPS may include:

• Constant feeling of burning or throbbing in the affected limb, typically your leg, arm, foot or hand
• Swelling in the affected limb
• The limb may be sensitive to old temperatures or being touched
• Your limb may change temperature from hot to cold and back
• Your joints may swell or feel stiff
• Your skin tone may change, turning mottled or shades of red or blue
• You skin may also have texture changes, becoming thinner, more tender or shiny
• The affected limb may have changes in nail and hair growth
• You may experience muscle spasms or atrophy
• Difficulty moving the affected limb

These symptoms can vary from one person to the next, but the sensitivity and pain may occur first. The important thing is to see a doctor as soon as you can.

Critical Information About CRPS

One of the reasons why it is so important to pay attention to the symptoms is because the changes in skin color may occur at a point when your condition has become irreversible. Again, prompt treatment is crucial.

It is possible for CRPS to go away on its own if the pain and symptoms are not too severe and do not get worse. However, CRPS could possibly spread from the affected limb to another part of your body, like the limb on the opposite side.

Keep in mind that CRPS pain could get worse if you are stressed out. So even if the condition has you feeling stressed, try to stay calm and simply get the help you need.

Your medical team can help you find the right treatment plan and get your CRPS symptoms under control before they get worse.