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The NIH estimates that between 1.5 and 3 million people in America have CRPS. In adults, the most commonly affected body part is the arm, but for children, it is the leg. CRPS affects people in different ways, and treatment must be tailored to the patient.

The symptoms of CRPS vary from patient to patient. These include:

. Burning pain in the arm, leg, hand, or foot
. Tremors or spasms
. Loss of fine motor control
. Sweating of the affected extremity
. Skin, hair, and nail changes of the affected limb
. Stiffness

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy can occur after a penetrating injury, deep wound or laceration, fracture of a bone, and surgery, such as carpal tunnel release or knee arthroscopy. In addition, CRPS has certain triggering factors, which are called disease mechanisms. These include:

. Sympathetic nervous system dysfunction - The nerves that control involuntary actions of the body are not working properly.
. Somatic nervous system dysfunction - These nerves pass messages between the brain and extremities through the spinal cord. A person with RSD often experiences hypersensitivity to gentle touch (allodynia) due to this problem.
. Neurogenic inflammation - The swelling and redness of the extremity associated with CRPS may be associated with a release of chemicals.
. Hypoxia - CRPS is thought to be associated with tightened blood vessels, which reduce oxygen in the body’s tissues.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is diagnosed based on the patient’s symptoms and medical history. There is no blood test or confirmatory diagnostic test to diagnose this condition. The doctor will often order x-rays, bone scans, computed tomography (CT) tests, and MRI scans to rule out serious conditions associated with these symptoms.

The treatment of complex regional pain syndrome varies from patient to patient, and therapy is aimed at symptom control and pain alleviation. Treatment options include:

Medications - Antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and analgesics are used to relieve the symptoms associated with CRPS.

Physical therapy - Treatment by a therapist involves strategies to reduce swelling and pain. Physical therapy involves strengthening exercises to improve limb function and movement. The therapist can use heat therapy, massage, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound, as well.

Stellate ganglion block - To relieve extremity pain, the doctor can inject a long-acting anesthetic onto the nerves that supply the arms or hands. According to a recent study, the success rate of the block was 76%, and almost half of the patients reported complete symptom relief.

Sympathectomy - With this procedure, the doctor destroys a portion of the nerve that supplies the extremity by using a destructive agent or coagulation. This procedure is reserved for people who do not respond to nerve blocks. The success rate is 77%, according to a clinical report.