what is crps medical

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a form of chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg. It typically develops after an injury, a surgery, a stroke, or a heart attack. The pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury. CRPS is uncommon, and its cause isn't clearly understood. There are two types of CRPS, with similar signs and symptoms, but different causes: Type 1, also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), occurs after an illness or injury that didn't directly damage the nerves in the affected limb, while Type 2, once referred to as causalgia, has symptoms similar to those of Type 1 but occurs after a specific nerve injury. Signs and symptoms of CRPS include pain, changes in skin color and temperature, swelling, and stiffness in affected joints. Diagnosis of CRPS is based on a physical exam and medical history, and there's no single test that can definitively diagnose it. Treatment is most effective when started early and may include physical or occupational therapy, mirror therapy, anesthetics, sympathetic ganglion block, spinal cord stimulator, and counseling or talk therapy.