Conditions & Diagnosis
Complex regional pain syndrome is a condition that some people have following an injury to an arm or leg or after a stroke or heart attack. The cause of CRPS is not really known but a common characteristic is for the pain to be out of proportion to the original injury. Symptoms of CRPS include change in colour, swelling, pins and needles, tremors or spasms, changes to the skin, hair and nails on the affected limb.
Management of CRPS may involve a variety of treatments, including physical therapy, psychological therapy, medications, injections and even neurostimulation. One of the treatment options for complex regional pain syndrome is a sympathetic block, which is performed in hospital. See stellate ganglion block for more information.
