Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful condition that can occur in one or more of your limbs. CRPS has 2 types. Type 1 has no known cause. Type 2 is caused by nerve damage.
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Follow up with your healthcare provider or pain specialist as directed:
You may need to have weekly visits with your provider or pain specialist to see if your treatment is working. Bring a list of any questions you have so you remember to ask them during your visits.
Medicines:
- Medicines may be given to treat swelling, nerve pain, or blood flow. You may need more than one medicine to treat your symptoms.
- Take your medicine as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Physical therapy:
A physical therapist can teach you exercises to help improve movement and strength of your injured limb.
Treatment options
The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
Manage CRPS:
- Stay active. Movement of the injured limb may help lower your pain.
- Find ways to relax. Your pain may increase when you are anxious. Ask your provider about relaxation techniques that help lower pain.
Contact your healthcare provider if:
- You have limb pain that you think is worse than any recent injury should cause.
- You have limb pain that continues after an injury heals.
- You have limb pain caused by things that do not normally cause pain, such as a touch to the skin.
- You have swelling, sweating, and skin temperature changes in an injured limb.
- You have trouble moving an injured limb.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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