Complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS, can be especially difficult because the pain may become more intense or widespread than the original injury would seem to explain. Symptoms can begin in one arm, leg, hand, or foot and later affect a larger area as the nervous system changes how it processes pain signals.
At Freedom Spine & Pain Center, Rajesh K. Sharma, MD, completed fellowship training in Interventional Pain Management, and Vrunda H. Pandya, MD, is board-certified in Anesthesiology and has practiced since 2009. Their backgrounds are relevant when pain management requires looking beyond the initial injury and evaluating how the nervous system may be contributing to persistent or expanding symptoms.
Why Can CRPS Affect a Larger Area?
CRPS is associated with abnormal nervous system activity after an injury, surgery, or other physical trauma. Instead of returning to normal as healing occurs, pain pathways can remain unusually sensitive.
Changes in nerve signaling, inflammation, blood flow, and the way the brain interprets sensation may all play a role. As these processes continue, pain can extend beyond the exact location where the problem first began.
What Does Spreading CRPS Pain Feel Like?
CRPS symptoms vary, but the pain is often described as burning, throbbing, stabbing, or unusually intense. Other changes may develop alongside the pain, including:
- Increased sensitivity to touch or temperature
- Swelling in the affected area
- Skin color or temperature changes
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- Changes in sweating
- Weakness or difficulty using the affected limb
Symptoms can fluctuate and may not follow a simple pattern.
Why Early Evaluation Matters
Persistent pain that worsens, spreads, or is accompanied by physical changes deserves prompt evaluation. CRPS can become more difficult to manage when pain pathways remain sensitized for a long period.
Pain management may involve a combination of medications, rehabilitation, nerve blocks, interventional procedures, or other therapies depending on the patient’s symptoms and functional limitations. The goal is to reduce pain while helping preserve movement and normal use of the affected area.
Seek Pain Management for CRPS in Boerne, Kerrville, and San Antonio, TX
CRPS can affect more than the original injury site when the nervous system continues sending abnormal pain signals. Freedom Spine & Pain Center evaluates the full pattern of symptoms to determine which pain management strategies may help reduce discomfort and support function.
To discuss persistent or spreading CRPS symptoms and schedule a consultation, call 210-920-8945.