September is a month of pain awareness.
The complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is very similar as it sounds and a broad term for a variety of diseases that cause pain.
The chronic state of pain usually causes long painful pain, swelling, sensitivity to touch or cold and other symptoms on the extremities-and-old arms, hands, legs and feet, although it can pass anywhere in the body.
CRPS is typically triggered after an injury or a serious medical event that affects the nerves in the body. But of course it’s not that easy. Some cases of CRPs occur without a known injury. And CRPS is more common in women and people who have been assigned to women at birth (Afab), but research is still further why this is the case. CPRS is usually diagnosed in people between the ages of 50 and 70, which makes this a further state that is more common in women after menopause. It is unusual that CPRS appear in older than 70 people.
Pain is complicated, but for many people with CRPs, relaxation is possible.
You should know the following about symptoms, risk factors and treatment options for complex regional pain syndrome.
Read: How chronic pain changes the brain >>
What is CRPS?
The complex regional pain syndrome is a roof term for pain and inflammation in a limb or other parts of the body, which normally follows an injury, a medical intervention or a medical event such as a heart attack or a stroke. The pain is often more serious than the injury caused.
There are four Subtypes from CRPS:
- CRPS-1 happens after an injury or illness without known nerve damage
- CRPS-2 happens after known damage to a certain nerve
- Warm crps Is – you guessed it – a warm sensitivity to temperature, usually together with redness and swelling, that usually happens early
- Cold CRPS is when the affected limb is moist and cooler than the other, which occurs more often with long-term crps
CRPs can be at short notice or chronic (three months or more) and the symptoms can be weakening for some people.
CRPS symptoms
CRPS symptoms vary from person to person, but the condition usually leads to a severe burn in the affected area. The pain can be constant, sporadic or more intense when touched.
The symptoms of CRPs can change and include over time:
- Swelling under the injury
- Changes in skin color (blue, red, purple, pale or stained skin)
- Changes in the skin structure (glossy and thin or scaly and thick)
- Temperature change of the skin
- Burn or “pens and needles” senation
- Increased skin sensitivity (allodynia)
- Hair and nails that grow quickly or not everyone
- Excess sweating or no sweating at all in the affected area
- Joint stiffness
- Excessive bone growth or thinning of bones/bone loss
- Stiffness and reduced movement of the affected area
CRPS risk factors
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Research is not concluded why some people do not get CRPs and other people themselves with the same injury. We know that the disease has an impact that more women and people with a family history of CRPS develop the likelihood more at a young age.
There may be a risk for CRPs if you:
- Had an injury to the upper or lower extremity (even if it is slightly)
- I had a work injury in a demanding physical crew
- Have had a difficult trauma
- Experience allodynia or other sensory changes
- smoke
- Have bad spread
- Have diabetes
- Have an autoimmune disease
- Had a previous nerve damage
Certain experiences can also increase the risk and lead to CRPs. These can include:
- Have a fracture – especially a wrist fracture
- Wear a line -up
- Expert
- A sprain or tribes suffer
- Experience nerve trauma
- Get a cut or burn
CRPS treatment
Although there is no cure for CRPs, there are treatment options that can be helpful in the symptoms and relaxation, depending on the severity of the symptoms.
The treatments for CRPs can include:
- Physiotherapy
- Changes to lifestyle such as compression socks or sleeves
- Medication
- Non -steroidal anti -inflammatory medication (NSAIDS)
- Prescription medication
- Creams or stains for local pain
- Corticosteroids for inflammation and swelling
- Spine medication (intrathecal)
- Ketamine therapy
- Spinal cord stimulation and other types of stimulation
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CRPS life expectancy
Although CRPS is not life -threatening, the disease can be serious and have a significant impact on its quality of life. A review showed that up to 9 out of 10 people with CRPs had experienced pain and motor functional disorders for more than a year, which led to physical, social and job problems.
If you live with CRPS, talk to your health service provider about treatment options that can help to cope with the symptoms and set the way for pain -free days.
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