7 Myths About Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

The lack of awareness about Complex Regional Pain Syndrome has led to many myths. These myths can hurt the perception of CRPS that other people have. Here are seven myths about CRPS and the facts to dispel them.

Myth #1: CRPS is a rare/new disorder.

Fact: CRPS has been around for approximately 145 years. Doctor Silas Mitchell Weir and his collegues first wrote about CRPS during the Civil War. Some of the names it has been known by are: Causalgia, Post-traumatic Dystrophy, Shoulder-hand Syndrome and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. In 1995 the International Association for the Study of Pain(IASP)felt Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy did not adequately represent the whole of the disorder. They changed the name to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.

Myth #2: CRPS does not spread.

Fact: In 70% of the cases of CRPS, it spread from the original location. It can affect any part of the body, including internal organs.

Myth #3: CRPS will go away in six month, a year, or 2 years.

Fact: Once you have CRPS, you have it for life. There is no cure and at this time, the treatments for this chronic condition do not work for everyone. If you are one of the lucky ones who go into remission, it can come back if there is another injury or for no reason at all.

Myth #4: Opioids do not help the pain of CRPS.

Fact: Using opioid medications can be very effective in lowering the pain level. They are used to help control the pain level in order to allow the patient to go to physical therapy. They also allow a patient to have a somewhat normal life. Without them, most patients would not be able to move or participate in daily life.

Myth #5: CRPS is a psychiatric disorder.

Fact: The pain is very real, as are the symptoms associated with it. No one can see the pain, but there are physical signs such as, color changes of the skin, loss of hair, and osteoporosis. Sometimes atrophy or contracture of the limb is also present. This myth is widespread among medical professionals.

Myth #6: Minor injuries do not cause CRPS, only major ones do.

Fact: The number one cause of CRPS is a minor injury or surgery. A sprain or broken bone are often the reasons heard when asking, "How did you get CRPS?" Minor surgery is a common reason as well. Surgeries for carpal tunnel, or to remove a neuroma from the foot.

Myth #7: If you don not get pain relief from a sympathetic nerve block you don not have CRPS.

Fact: Getting no pain relief from a block only means the pain is SIP, Sympathetically Independent Pain. Patients who get pain relief from a block have SMP, Sympathetically Maintained Pain. A series of blocks may be successful in putting CRPS into remission. It also may result in longer periods of relief with each block. This myth has caused delayed treatment for many people.