Thanks to our modern science which helped us know a lot about CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome). CRPS is basically a pain condition that effects limbs like feet, hand, legs and arms especially after a trauma or injury. In some cases it is mild, some its moderate and in other cases it is severe too.
CRPS can occur due to malfunction or damage of central or peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system comprise of spinal cord and brain and peripheral nervous system consists of nerve signaling via spinal cord and brain to the entire body.
Some common facts about CRPS are
The pain is not directly associated to range of damage or injury
The pain that occurs in case of CRPS can be unbearable without affecting much to tissue health. Remember this pain part of protection of the body on its own and doesn’t indicate any tissue damage.
The limb that is affected can feel different from the way it actually looks
Here temperature and size are included. It also feels like detaches, not mine, doesn’t belong to me . The loss of sensation of owning the limb occurs as brain produces this sense, but brain can also regulate it.
The symptoms absolutely can change depending on how you feel and your mood
Stress can increase the pain. This is because of identified threat to the individual triggering protection.
Looking at someone who can move their body part leads to depression or hurt you
The brain imitates the similar movement leading to actual pain.
Change in color of limb because of change in blood flow
The ANS (automatic nervous system) controls our blood flow. This system answers to identified threat – fright, flight, freeze. In simple words this system responds to what and how we think. When it is a embarrassing situation for us we turn to red. This is due to how we though of that situation. The ANS becomes sensitive, and is asoosciated with CRPS – sweaty palms, changed sense regarding size and color change.
The women are affected almost 3 times more than men. A series of CRPS treatment is conducted normally to improve symptoms of CRPS. A MRI, x-ray, bone scan or a test of nervous system can help a person know if he/s she has CRPS.
A majority of CRPS patients within the age group of 30-55 years and CRPS can spread occasionally from one part to another anywhere in our body like opposite limb. Symptoms and signs exists from months and extend to years and treatment is only effective when started in initial stages of the disease.
The condition takes several to many years to improve. Approx 75% of patients get back to normal condition whereas some near normal. About 15 per cent have permanent diability(moderate) and 10% cases suffer from permanent diability(severe). Fifty percent of people who remain untreated end up facing extreme residual impairement.
It is better to get your CRPS condition treated in early stages of illness to avoid severe impairment.