Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates

Pain Management Specialists located in Salem, VA & Christiansburg, VA

Following an injury, your risk for developing a painful condition known as complex regional pain syndrome increases. To prevent the worsening of your pain or permanent disability, the experienced pain management specialists at Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates in Salem, Christiansburg, Roanoke, Virginia, can evaluate the severity of your pain and create a comprehensive treatment plan to help you manage it for the long-term. Learn more about injectable therapies and innovative spinal stimulation treatments for alleviating pain related to complex regional pain syndrome by calling the office nearest you or using the online booking feature.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Q & A

What is complex regional pain syndrome?

Complex regional pain syndrome develops when there’s dysfunction in your nervous system. Typically, this type of chronic pain develops following a traumatic injury where the central or peripheral nervous system is damaged.

As a result, the signals from your brain to the rest of your body malfunction, resulting in chronic pain that makes it difficult for you to work or stay physically active.

What are the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome?

The hallmark of complex regional pain syndrome is persistent pain that lasts for six months or longer and can’t be relieved with home care or over-the-counter medications.

Other common symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome include:

Joint stiffness
Abnormal sweating
Changes in skin texture and color
Difficulties with muscle coordination

Another side effect of complex regional pain syndrome includes abnormal movement in the affected limb, such as tremors, twitching, or jerking, a condition known as dystonia.

How is complex regional pain syndrome diagnosed?

There’s no specific test that can confirm complex regional pain syndrome. However, the medical team at Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates is highly experienced in identifying the condition using your medical history and in-office diagnostics.

Because the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome can be similar to other conditions, your physician may order screenings, including blood work and imaging tests, to rule out underlying medical issues.

What treatments are available for complex regional pain syndrome?

The Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates team offers several treatments for managing the pain of complex regional pain syndrome.

Injectable treatments are effective at relieving pain and inflammation by delivering anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medications directly to the area where the pain originates.

For debilitating pain, options for relief include infusion therapy, which uses an intravenous (IV) line to deliver pain-relieving medications. The physicians also offer spinal cord stimulation, an innovative device that uses electrodes to disrupt pain signals traveling to your brain. You control the stimulator using an external remote to relieve pain as needed.

An intrathecal pump is also an effective treatment option for chronic pain that delivers medication directly into the cerebrospinal fluid within the spine. In addition to pain relief, the pump can also reduce muscle spasms and rigidity in your back and neck.

If other treatments for complex regional pain syndrome have failed, schedule a consultation at Blue Ridge Pain Management Associates today, online or by phone.

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