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Introduction
Complex regional pain syndrome is a type of chronic pain that typically affects a leg or an arm. This type of pain syndrome is very uncommon and usually develops once an injury is incurred, such as stroke or heart attack. The reason it is defined as an uncommon syndrome is that the pain that is being experienced is not proportionate to how severe the injury was. This syndrome is not one that is understood clearly though it has been found that early treatment is the best way to overcome it, though even with treatment, this condition may not respond and the patient must learn to live with it.
Epidemiology:
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CRPD presents in 1-15% of patients with cases of peripheral nerve injury.
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10-30% of CRPD cases come to light after fracture, sprain or other soft tissue injuries.
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While no one is immune to this pain syndrome, the affected population is overwhelmingly white and female. 96% with CRPD are white and 80% are female.
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All age groups have been affected by this syndrome.
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Children have had the best overall response to treatment to CRPD.
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