Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: 5 Main Symptoms

Diagnosing CRPS can be like putting the pieces of a puzzle together. Taking each symptom, ruling out where it doesn't go. Finding where it fits and putting it in place. These are the five main symptoms of CRPS to look for.

Main Symptoms of CRPS

1. Pain

The pain will be out of proportion to the original injury. It may be described as sharp, stabbing, shooting, aching, crushing, burning, throbbing. Pain is most often intense and constant, though it can fluctuate. The pain may be "mild" in nature. The pain of CRPS is thought to be caused by hyperactivity of the nervous system. A minor injury or surgery, causes a cycle of pain and other symptoms to begin.

2. Sensitivity

This can range from mild to extreme. The term used to describe this sensitivity is Allodynia(Al-oh-din-ee-a). Pain that is caused by stimuli which doesn't normally cause pain, such as a light touch or breeze on the skin. The lingering pain felt for some time after a light touch or a sheet brushing against the skin is called Hyperpathia(Hi-per-pay-thee-a).

Sensitivity may or may not be present at first. This aspect of CRPS, besides the pain, can be one of the most crippling symptoms to live with. If the sensitivity is intense, this leads some people to try to protect the limb. This can lead to atrophy or contracture.

3. Skin temperature

Skin temperature changes can feel cold or hot to the touch. The temperature difference can vary from slightly cool to freezing cold, or a bit warm to searing hot.

The cause of cold skin temperature is due to the constriction of blood vessels. This mechanism slows the body's ability to circulate blood and oxygen through the limb properly.

4. Skin color

Skin color changes can appear in varying shades and fluctuate over a period of time. When skin feels cold, the color could be purple, pink, blue, pale or a combination of all of them called mottling. When the skin feels hot to the touch, the color may range from light red to a very deep red.

Skin discoloration is usually more noticeable when the limb is down. It can become darker in color the longer you sit, stand or have an arm hanging at your side. When a limb is elevated, the discoloration will seem to fade and the skin will look "normal." The cause of skin discoloration is due to a lack of sufficient circulation in the limb.

5. Swelling

Swelling can be mild or severe. There may be no swelling, or may be barely noticeable. Swelling can be localized or involve a significant portion of the limb.

There are many more symptoms because CRPS affects the whole body. There are emotional aspects, skin issues and so much more. This is the first in a series of articles which will explore all the symptoms of CRPS.