{"id":16763,"date":"2026-11-10T20:47:39","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T19:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/?page_id=16763"},"modified":"2026-11-10T21:40:52","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T20:40:52","slug":"complex-regional-pain-syndrome-crps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/neurohirurgija.in.rs\/en\/complex-regional-pain-syndrome-crps\/","title":{"rendered":"Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) \u2014 Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Persistent Pain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Author:<\/span>\n \n Dr. Zeljko Kojadinovic, MD, PhD\n <\/a>\n \u2014 Consultant Neurosurgeon and Pain Specialist\n <\/div>\n\n
\n Specialized Experience:<\/span>\n 30+ years of clinical expertise in neurosurgery.\n <\/div>\n\n
\n Last medically reviewed:<\/span>\n November 10, 2026\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Who This CRPS Page Is For<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n This page is intended for patients diagnosed with or suspected of having\n Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)<\/strong>, as well as their\n families seeking a clear explanation of the condition, its symptoms,\n diagnosis, progression, and treatment options.\n <\/p>\n\n

\n If pain persists despite treatment, symptoms change or spread,\n different specialists recommend conflicting approaches, or\n an additional treatable pain generator may be contributing\n to the symptoms<\/strong>, an individualized\n \n online specialist pain consultation\n <\/a>\n can help reassess the pain mechanisms, identify additional or dominant\n pain sources, and evaluate realistic treatment options without\n questioning an established CRPS diagnosis.\n <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\n Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) \u2014 Quick Summary (Read This First)\n <\/h3>\n\n
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  • \n CRPS is a regional pain syndrome, usually affecting an arm, hand, leg, or foot.<\/strong>\n The pain is much stronger than expected from the original injury.\n It often comes with swelling, changes in skin color or temperature,\n sweating abnormalities, and stiffness.\n <\/li>\n\n
  • \n CRPS usually starts after a fracture, surgery, sprain, or nerve injury.<\/strong>\n Even a minor injury can trigger CRPS.\n Type I occurs without an identified nerve injury, while Type II\n is associated with an identifiable peripheral nerve injury.\n <\/li>\n\n
  • \n Typical symptoms include burning pain and extreme sensitivity to touch.<\/strong>\n Clothing, water, or a light touch can cause pain (allodynia).\n Weakness, tremor, and changes in skin, hair, or nails may also occur.\n Symptoms can fluctuate, and not every patient experiences all of them.\n <\/li>\n\n
  • \n No single test confirms CRPS \u2014 diagnosis is based on clinical assessment.<\/strong>\n Doctors use standard diagnostic rules called the Budapest criteria.\n MRI, nerve conduction studies, and bone scans help investigate\n other problems, but normal results do not exclude CRPS.\n <\/li>\n\n
  • \n Not every pain symptom in a patient with CRPS is caused by CRPS itself.<\/strong>\n A painful nerve in a surgical scar, a trapped nerve, a poorly healed\n fracture, irritation from plates or screws, or a tendon or joint\n disorder can contribute additional pain.\n Some of these problems can be treated separately, even when CRPS remains.\n <\/li>\n\n
  • \n Treatment combines gradual rehabilitation with pain management.<\/strong>\n Medication, restoration of movement, and selected procedures such as\n nerve blocks or spinal stimulation may help.\n No single treatment works for everyone.\n <\/li>\n\n
  • \n CRPS does not always get worse, and meaningful improvement is possible.<\/strong>\n Many patients improve, particularly with early individualized treatment.\n New or worsening pain does not automatically mean that CRPS is spreading \u2014\n another cause should also be considered.\n <\/li>\n\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n

    \n If your pain continues despite treatment, start with\n Clinical Clues Suggesting an Additional Pain Generator<\/strong>\n and How Is the Dominant Pain Generator Identified?<\/strong>.\n For general information, see\n Symptoms of CRPS<\/strong>,\n How Is CRPS Diagnosed?<\/strong>, and\n Treatment Options for CRPS<\/strong>.\n The remaining sections provide more detailed clinical explanations.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n