© Genesis Research Services, 2025
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a devastating, painful condition that may develop in a limb following injury, trauma or surgery. It affects around 5,000 Australians each year. The risk of developing CRPS depends on the type and location of injury or surgery, with some injuries carrying a higher risk.
Diagnosis of CRPS is based on medical history and symptoms according to the Budapest Criteria approved by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). According to this diagnostic criteria, a person must have continuing pain and a combination of signs and symptoms from the following categories:
While there are no specific tests for CRPS, X-rays and bone scans may help to detect bone changes that can occur in later stages of CRPS.
There are two types of CRPS:
CRPS can also be described as ‘warm’ or ‘cold’:
The exact cause of CRPS is still unclear, but experts believe it involves problems in several body systems.
Some possible causes include:
What makes CRPS more difficult to understand is that symptoms and how it affects people can be very different. Genetics and lifestyle may also have an impact.
Additionally, as CRPS becomes chronic, the underlying processes change. This is why acute and chronic CRPS often look and feel so different.
Treating CRPS is challenging and depends on the symptoms and how long they’ve lasted. Getting treatment early is crucial for the best chance of recovery. When CRPS becomes chronic, the focus shifts to managing the pain and reducing flare-ups.
Many people need to try different treatments and often need the support of multiple healthcare professionals.
Physical therapy and rehabilitation are the most important treatments for CRPS.
It’s essential for people with CRPS to keep moving and exercising their affected limb, even if it’s painful. This helps improve blood flow, reduce sensitivity and swelling, and maintain flexibility, strength, and function.
Motor imagery training, such as mirror box therapy, imagined movements, and limb orientation recognition tasks, have been shown to improve pain, swelling, and function in both acute and chronic CRPS.
Occupational therapy can also help people with CRPS return to work and manage daily tasks.
Due to the great emotional and psychological burden of chronic pain and CRPS symptoms, psychotherapy is important. People living with CRPS are more likely to develop depression, anxiety disorders, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fear of movement and fear of re-injury is also common. These can worsen pain and affect brain function.
Recommended therapies include:
Currently, no medications have been approved specifically for CRPS.
Commonly prescribed oral medications that may help include:
Topical medications, including creams, ointments, and gels, may also be helpful, especially for acute CRPS. These include:
Other treatments and procedures that may help treat CRPS include:
If standard treatments don’t work, or if CRPS becomes chronic, more advanced therapies may be required:
Currently, spinal cord stimulation is considered one of the most effective options for managing severe, chronic CRPS.
As researchers and doctors continue to learn more about the complex causes of CRPS, more effective treatments are likely to be developed. The main goal of research is to discover drugs or therapies that can target the key factors causing CRPS and stop it from progressing.
Genesis Research Services conducts clinical trials for a range of painful conditions. To view currently recruiting studies or register your interest for future studies, click here or call us on (02) 4985 1860.
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© Genesis Research Services, 2025