brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Symptoms of CRPS
Symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome vary greatly and do not follow a pattern. Pain—burning, tingling, or aching—is common. It usually occurs in the limb (arm, leg, hand, or foot) that was injured. The pain is often worse than what would be expected from the injury. Emotional stress or changes in the temperature may make the pain worse. The skin in the affected area often becomes very sensitive to the touch (called allodynia). As a result, normal contact with the skin is experienced as very painful. People may not use the affected limb because of the pain. As result, people may become unable to move a joint normally, through its normal range of motion. Muscles may become permanently shortened and stiff (called contractures), and scar tissue may form. The affected limb may swell. Hair may be lost. The nails may crack or become thick. Bones may become less dense. Muscles may waste away and become weak. People may sweat more or less than usual and may feel hotter or cooler than usual. The skin in the affected area may look, red, blotchy, pale, or shiny. The fingers may flex or the foot may twist in an abnormal position and may remain that way (called Dystonia ). The affected limb may tremble or jerk. Many people with complex regional pain syndrome become depressed, anxious, and/or angry, partly because the cause is poorly understood, the effectiveness of treatments is limited, and the outcome is hard to predict. Symptoms may lessen or remain the same for years. In a few people, the disorder progresses, spreading to other areas of the body. 