What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), previously known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD), is a chronic neuro-inflammatory disorder (Sebastian, 2011). This disorder is characterized by persistent, on-going pain and disability. According to the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDA), up to two hundred thousand people in the United States are affected with the disorder every year (“Telltale Signs and Symptoms of CRPS/RSD,” n.d.). Although anyone can be diagnosed with this syndrome, it is most commonly seen in women versus men (3.5:1), and in individuals around age forty (“Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Fact Sheet,” 2013; Goebel, 2011). Unlike most syndromes, diseases, or other illnesses, there is no statistical data available for the mortality rates of CRPS since people do not die from the syndrome. However, those with CRPS may die due to the complications associated with CRPS on the various bodily organ systems including: the cardiac system, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, endocrine system, urological system, and gastrointestinal system (Schwartzman, 2012).
How is CRPS Diagnosed?
CRPS is a hard syndrome to truly diagnose, which is why some doctors provide their patients with a clinical diagnosis based on the “Budapest Clinical Diagnostic Criteria,” other doctors do not follow these criteria and diagnose on a case-by-case basis (Harden et al., 2010). CRPS is generally caused, and diagnosed
In February of 2016 I was diagnosed with amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome (AMPs) by Dr. Bentley at Children’s Specialized Hospital. I was only diagnosed when I was 14 years old but I learned that it had caused me many years of pain, I just didn’t know what it was and figured it was normal. Little did I know that it was not normal to constantly be feeling pins and needles all over my skin all day or to not want to hug people because it hurt, or not want to go to school because it just hurt so bad. The pain started to escalate after a surgery in November of 2015. I had just gotten a surgery on my foot because I had broken a bone, and no matter what narcotic they put me on I remained in pain. From then on everything escalated very quickly
Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and fatigue. It affects approximately 2% of the population, and is more common in women than in men. Central nervous system sensitization affects the entire body, leading to many secondary symptoms. This paper will cover the history, symptoms, and causes of FMS as well as known treatments and exercise prescription for the syndrome.
Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is the most common type of autoimmune arthritis. RA is a progressive and debilitating musculoskeletal disorder that affects the joints symmetrically, causing a range of systemic effects. What it causes is still not well known; nevertheless, findings of new research points towards a believe that it is triggered by a defective immune system, which causes the release of inflammatory chemicals. These chemicals cause damage to cartilage and bone, usually affecting the wrists, the joints of the hand, including the knuckles, the middle joints of the fingers and feet. While this condition can affect any joints, besides, important body organs such as the eyes and the lungs can also be affected by the inflammation that occurs as a result of this chronic condition. Only in America 1.3 million of people are affected by this ailment, and 75 % of them are mainly women. Its onset usually occurs between fourth and sixth decades; however, RA can occur at any age("Diseases And
In second grade I was first diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Disorder, witch rendered me paralyzed for six months. CRPS is a nervous system disorder that causes stabbing, burning, constant, severe pain that can come on for no reason. It can cause spasms of muscles and in blood vessels, as well as cause emotional disorders from the trauma that it inflicts. For me, I was left with depression and anxiety over the unknown of when it would next return. I relapsed eighth grade and just last year, continuing through today. I am not shy over talking about the things that ail me, and, I think, my experiences give me more of a say than most to address Nancy Mairs’s essay than it does those who have yet to experience such setbacks in life.
It is not rare for individuals with lupus to undergo muscle throbs and discomfort or have inflammation of certain muscle groups, which causes faintness and loss of intensity. More than 90 percent of people with lupus will encounter joint and/or muscle pain at some time during the path of their illness. In lupus, the immune system of the body raids its own cells and tissues. Precisely, the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and other organs of the body are affected. Lupus affects generally 10 times as many women as men. Most often, lupus develops in people 18 to 45 years old. (Lahita) Though lupus is most dominant among women, it also may affect men and children, as well as individuals of all ages. Lupus effects each person
Systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune disease. This condition causes the body to mistaken its own tissues and organs as foreign bodies and begins attacking them causing continuing inflammation and pain. (Huether & McCance, 2012) The cause of SLE still remains unknown, but it is possible that is inherited as a complex trait or caused by environmental stimuli. (S) Anyone is at risk for Lupus, but is more common among women than men and is more prevalent of African Americans and Asians. (National Library of Medicine 2010, para 2) This condition can be difficult to diagnose, as a patient must present a number of the recognizable symptoms. Depending on the location that Lupus presents itself in the body, the symptoms
In October 2007, a nine-year-old Ophelia Brown started experiencing extreme pain in both of her knees. After numerous hospital visits, X-rays and MRIs, she was given a “clean bill of health (cite)” by doctors. However in 2012, she was referred to a rheumatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), where she was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is a neuropathic disorder that is caused by damage to the peripheral and central nervous systems, which then causes the pain to radiate through the limbs. Ophelia experiences “every type of pain”, according to her mother, Sheila Craig and this pain is treated with drugs and physiotherapy. Specifically, Ophelia takes anti-anxiety drugs and a muscle relaxant.
Such as, in the beginning, the condition attacks the site where the insult occurred and is believed to be connected to the flight or fight response of the body. CRPS can spread in the aspect that its attack migrates to other areas of the body. Generally associated with affecting the central nervous causing neuropathic pain such as burning, tingling, etc when the reality of the condition is much more widespread, CRPS affects the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system affecting: cognition; constitution, cardiac, and respiratory complications; systemic autonomic dysregulation; neurogenic edema; musculoskeletal changes, endocrine and dermatological manifestations; as well as affecting the urological and gastrointestinal function. More importantly, there is the potential for organ failure. Sadly, CRPS is widely misdiagnosed and misunderstood by the medical community. Moreover, due to a lack of information on the pathophysiology of CRPS and the similar absence of consistent objective diagnostic criteria, clinical trials that demonstrate effective therapies are difficult to
I hurt…Over the many year’s now of dealing with the disease commonly referred to today as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), this simple yet weighted term of “I hurt” has become imprinted upon my brain. This term has also become synonymous in describing how I feel to every physician, family member, and friend, when describing the chief symptom with CRPS. What is also troubling, is all the additional place's I hurt now since being diagnosed with this disease.
The cause of pain can be puzzling and is not always related to specific pathology (Croft et al.,
CRPS is uncommon, amongst all individuals, however, can easily affect a person after a traumatic injury to a limb. CRPS symptoms differ in severity and duration and the outcome for each individual is different, for example, children and teenager have a higher prospect of recovering, whereas others are left with irreversible variations regardless of treatment (National Institute of Neurological
The diagnosis of DPN is primarily clinical, based on clinical suspicion and confirmatory examination findings from the history and examination, followed by the exclusion of other potential causes.(Vinik A, et al 2013)
Myofascial pain syndrome, otherwise known as MPS, is a chronic pain disorder. The word myofascial broken apart means muscle, and muscle tissue, and fascia which is the membrane supporting muscles. In the condition of MPS, pressure on sensitive points in the muscles, also known as trigger points, cause pain in the muscle. Sometimes the trigger points also send pain to other parts of your body that seem unrelated to the tense muscle, known as referred pain. Myofascial pain syndrome typically occurs after a muscle has been contracted repetitively. Although everyone experiences muscle tension and pain, the discomfort associated with MPS will persist and worsen over time.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic syndrome that is characterized by inflammation of the peripheral joints, but it may also involve the lungs, heart, blood vessels, and eyes. The prevalence of this autoimmune disease is between 0.3% to 1.5% of the population in the United States (Feinberg, pp 815). It affects women two to three times more often than men, and the onset of RA is usually between 25 and 50 years of age, but it can occur at any age (Reed, pp 584). RA can be diagnosed by establishing the presence of persistent joint pain, swelling in a symmetric distribution, and prolonged morning stiffness. RA usually affects multiple joints, such as the hands, wrists, knees, elbows, feet, shoulders, hips, and small hand joints. RA is
Chronic Pain is an interesting problem in society today. The exact cause of Chronic Pain is not the same in every patient. In fact most patients present with different symptoms and associated pathologies, such as the strong link with depression. Treatment of Chronic Pain is often performed a single practitioner whether that be a Medical Doctor, Chiropractor, Nutritionist, or an alternative health care professional. Chronic Pain is often extremely complex, because of this treatment needs to be multidimensional. Effective care of Chronic Pain requires the collective cooperation of health care professionals