Pain that feels completely out of proportion.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is one of the most intense and puzzling pain conditions we treat. It usually starts after an injury — sometimes a minor one — and produces burning pain, swelling, and skin changes that far exceed what the original event would predict. It's real, it's serious, and with the right specialist, many people find meaningful relief.
Your doctor may call this reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) or causalgia.
Often seen within a few days — sometimes as soon as tomorrowRequest your first visit
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No referral needed. We verify your insurance before you arrive.
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What complex regional pain syndrome (crps) really is.
CRPS happens when the nervous system goes into a kind of overdrive after an injury, trauma, or surgery — sometimes even a seemingly trivial event like a sprained ankle. Instead of calming down as the injury heals, the pain signals amplify. The result is an abnormal pain state where the affected limb becomes extraordinarily sensitive, often accompanied by changes in skin color, temperature, and sweating.
There are two types: CRPS-I (formerly called reflex sympathetic dystrophy) occurs without confirmed nerve damage; CRPS-II (formerly causalgia) follows an identified nerve injury. Both share the same hallmark features — disproportionate pain, swelling, skin changes — and both require specialized pain management. The condition most often affects one arm or leg.
The good news
CRPS is not a life sentence. Early, aggressive treatment is associated with better outcomes, and a meaningful portion of patients achieve remission or substantial long-term relief. The key is getting to a specialist who has experience with CRPS — waiting and hoping it resolves on its own is one of the main factors that allows it to entrench. We take CRPS seriously and have a structured treatment approach.
Budapest Criteria and the sympathetic axis
Diagnosis uses the Budapest Criteria — a validated set of clinical signs and symptoms across sensory, vasomotor, sudomotor/edema, and motor categories. We evaluate sympathetic nervous system involvement and consider whether sympathetically maintained pain (SMP) is a component, since that changes the treatment pathway. Interventional options including stellate ganglion blocks and spinal cord stimulation have strong evidence in CRPS and are part of our toolkit.
Common signs we treat.
Constant burning pain
An intense, unremitting burning in the affected limb — often described as if the skin is on fire, present even at rest.
Swelling and skin changes
Visible swelling, along with changes in skin color (mottled, red, or pale) and temperature differences between the affected and unaffected limb.
Extreme sensitivity to touch
Allodynia — pain from things that shouldn't hurt, like a light breeze, clothing contact, or the weight of a bedsheet.
From hurting to healed.
We work from the least-invasive options upward, escalating only if you need it. Most patients improve well before surgery is ever discussed.
Diagnose the cause
A physician examines you and, if needed, reviews imaging to pinpoint exactly what's driving the pain.
Calm it down
Targeted physical therapy, activity guidance, and medication to settle the irritation and reduce inflammation.
Image-guided injections
If pain persists, a precisely targeted injection delivered to the source under imaging.
Advanced options
For the few who need more, minimally invasive interventional procedures — with surgery as a last resort.
Treatment is matched to your specific diagnosis at your visit. The options shown reflect NASPAC's general approach and should be confirmed against the practice's verified procedure list.
Still have questions?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a chronic pain condition where the nervous system produces pain that is disproportionate to — and outlasts — whatever injury started it. It's characterized by burning pain, swelling, skin color and temperature changes, and hypersensitivity in the affected limb. It's not imaginary, not psychological, and not something you simply push through — it requires specialized treatment.
CRPS typically follows an injury, surgery, or immobilization — sometimes a significant trauma, sometimes something as minor as a sprain. In a subset of cases, there's no identifiable trigger at all. The exact mechanism isn't fully understood, but it involves an abnormal response from the peripheral and central nervous systems and, in many cases, the sympathetic nervous system.
Treatment is multimodal and should start as early as possible. Physical and occupational therapy are foundational — keeping the limb moving is critical. Medications that modulate nerve pain are often used alongside. Interventionally, sympathetic nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and ketamine infusions (in appropriate patients) have evidence supporting their use in CRPS. We build a phased plan based on your specific presentation and how long you've had symptoms.
Yes — especially with early, targeted treatment. Studies suggest that a substantial portion of patients, particularly those treated within the first year, experience significant improvement or remission. Later-stage CRPS is harder to fully resolve but still very treatable in terms of pain reduction and functional improvement. The goal is always to maximize function and minimize pain, regardless of where you are in the course of the condition.
Stop living with the burning pain.
Book with a board-certified pain physician near you — most patients are seen within days.
Book an appointment → Or call (855) 862-7767