Regional Pain Syndrome Specialist in Houston, TX

Complex regional pain syndrome may be diagnosed as Type I with no known cause or Type II when the injured nerve has been identified. These two types do not differ in terms of symptoms or progressive stages. There are three stages of complex regional pain syndrome: acute, subacute, and chronic.

The acute phase of CRPS may last up to three months and is characterized by many symptoms, including burning pain, redness, swelling, skin temperature asymmetry, and increased perspiration. In this stage, you will likely also experience stiffness and pain in the joints, which disallows full range of motion (ROM), as well as muscle tremors and involuntary jerking. The skin will probably feel cool to the touch and look shiny. Further, the growth rate of the nails and hair may accelerate. The subacute phase usually lasts between three and six months, and while many symptoms are similar to the acute phase, they are worsened when paired with some new changes.

Your swelling will get worse as the edema develops. Edema is a particular swelling due to fluid accumulation and occurs in complex regional pain systems because of impaired nerve functions. C-fibers are a kind of nerve found in the peripheral nervous system (outside of the brain and spine) associated with sensations such as pain and itchiness; however, they have many other functions. These nerve fibers innervate blood vessels and are significant determinants of blood flow. When circulation is poor and fluid accumulates in the extremities, pressure builds on the vessel walls and causes them to become leaky. This leads to edema, as the excess fluid spills from the vessels into surrounding tissues. In the subacute stage, you will also notice more changes to the skin. The texture may change and appear scaly, and the color will become paler and possibly blue-tinted.

Excessive hair and nail growth slow; the nails become brittle, and hair may begin to fall out. The final stage, chronic CRPS, usually happens around the nine to twelve-month mark and can last several years or become a permanent condition. The aforementioned symptoms will continue to worsen, and there will likely be signs of osteoporosis (bone degeneration) and muscle atrophy (muscle degeneration) due to immobilization and lack of use.

The majority of cases of CRPS are mild; however, the condition is considered serious as it can develop into debilitating pain, loss of proper functioning, tissue damage, and deep psychological impacts. Therefore, this condition must be treated early to optimize patient outcomes.

While most cases of CRPS are mild and will dissipate on their own after a few months up to a couple of years, leaving the condition can have severe adverse effects. The area where the pain is felt can spread up the arm or leg and become intense. Dealing with chronic pain leads to many psychological impacts, such as depression and anxiety.

Further, the immobilization of an extremity due to pain and joint stiffness can lead to muscle wasting (atrophy) and weakening bones (osteoporosis). Finally, with poor circulation and edema, you risk damage to the nerves and the tissues as a result of oxygen deprivation.

At InovoSpine Interventional Pain Management Center, we offer numerous services and minimally invasive procedures to treat chronic pain. With over twenty years of experience, and appearances on many shows such as CNN, Fox, CBS, NBC, and ABC, our exceptional Dr. Pawan Grover is dedicated to providing optimal pain relief and treatments to improve your overall quality of life and is currently accepting new patients.

So please, if you are experiencing chronic pain, do not hesitate to contact us or book an appointment. Our team is excited to meet you and is prepared to guide you back to a better life. We serve patients from Houston TX, Hedwig Village TX, Meadows Place TX, Missouri City TX, Hunters Creek Village TX, Spring Valley Village TX and surrounding areas.