Complex regional pain syndrome or CRPS is a painful condition that affects the arm and hand or leg and foot. It usually occurs after trauma of some sort, including car accidents, falls, assault, lifting heavy objects, and surgery.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) comes with a wide range of symptoms. Most people report a cutting, sharp, or stabbing pain. It's intense and it's constant. They may also notice increased or decreased sweating of the area. Hair patches or hair loss (or both) are common. Muscle spasm and weakness are part of the clinical picture early on for most patients.

Some patients' have a change in temperature, too. The limb may become very hot and sweaty or cold and clammy. It's not entirely clear what causes this condition or its symptoms. It looks like changes in both the central (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous systems (spinal nerves) are part of the process. Interactions between the nervous system and the immune system may be equally important.

All of these changes probably contribute to the symptoms described with CRPS. Most people think the syndrome occurs after healing is complete. But one theory is that there is ongoing inflammation. The inflammation causes nerve endings to become extra sensitive.

Women are more likely to develop CRPS compared to men, so there may be a neurohormonal factor as well. The interaction between the nervous system and hormones is complex and not well understood. Any number of problems in communication between these two systems could set off a chain reaction that ends in developing CRPS.

Robert J. Schwartzman, MD, et al. The Natural History of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. In Clinical Journal of Pain. May 2009. Vol. 25. No. 4. Pp. 273-280.

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