Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that most often develops after an injury, surgery, fracture, or even a minor trauma. The pain is typically out of proportion to the original injury and can include burning pain, swelling, temperature changes, skin color changes, and extreme sensitivity to touch. CRPS can affect your ability to walk, use your hand, work, sleep, and participate in daily life. At Silver Pain Centre, we provide OHIP-covered consultations and specialized interventional treatments to reduce abnormal pain signaling, improve function, and support recovery as early as possible.
What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a condition where the nervous system becomes dysregulated following an injury. Instead of normal healing, the body develops ongoing pain and abnormal inflammatory and nerve responses in the affected limb. CRPS most commonly affects an arm, hand, leg, or foot, and symptoms can change over time.
Burning, throbbing, or deep aching pain that feels out of proportion to the initial injury.
Severe sensitivity to touch, clothing, temperature, or light pressure. Swelling and stiffness in the affected area.
Skin color changes, including redness, bluish tones, or mottling. Temperature changes where the limb feels unusually hot or cold.
Changes in sweating, skin texture, hair growth, or nail growth.
Reduced range of motion, weakness, tremor, or difficulty using the limb normally.
Why Does Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Occur?
CRPS is believed to occur when the nervous system and immune responses become overly reactive after an injury. This can create a cycle of inflammation, altered blood flow, nerve hypersensitivity, and amplified pain signaling.
Common contributing factors include:
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Injury or Trauma: Sprains, fractures, crush injuries, or soft tissue trauma.
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Surgery or Immobilization: Post-operative changes or prolonged casting can trigger abnormal pain responses in some individuals.
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Nerve Sensitization: The peripheral and central nervous system become hypersensitive, leading to persistent pain signals.
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Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction: Abnormal regulation of blood flow, temperature, and sweating in the affected area.
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Inflammatory Responses: Persistent swelling and inflammatory signaling that prolongs pain and tissue sensitivity.
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Delayed Treatment: The longer CRPS goes untreated, the harder it can be to reverse the cycle.
How We Diagnose & Treat at Silver Pain Centre
CRPS requires early recognition and a structured treatment plan focused on reducing pain sensitization and restoring function. Our specialists assess your symptom pattern, functional limitations, clinical findings, and medical history to determine whether CRPS is likely and to rule out other conditions that can mimic it.
Your personalized treatment plan may include:
Medication Optimization: Targeted medications to reduce nerve hypersensitivity, stabilize pain signaling, and improve sleep when appropriate.
Sympathetic Nerve Blocks: Image-guided injections that target the autonomic nerves involved in CRPS to reduce pain, improve circulation, and support functional recovery.
Peripheral Nerve Blocks: When pain follows a specific nerve distribution or when diagnostic clarity is needed.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): In selected cases, thermal treatment used to reduce persistent pain signals from targeted nerve pathways.
Neuromodulation Options: Advanced therapies that help interrupt chronic pain signaling when symptoms persist despite conservative and interventional care.
Rehabilitation Coordination: Practical guidance and coordination with physiotherapy and movement retraining to restore normal use of the affected limb, reduce guarding, and prevent long-term stiffness.
When to Seek Help & How We Can Support You
If you notice pain that feels disproportionate to an injury, along with swelling, color changes, temperature changes, or extreme sensitivity, early assessment is important. CRPS responds best when treatment begins as soon as possible, before pain cycles become deeply entrenched. At Silver Pain Centre, we provide comprehensive, OHIP-covered consultations designed to help you find lasting relief.
At Silver Pain Centre, we provide comprehensive, OHIP-covered consultations designed to help you find lasting relief. Here’s how we make a difference:
Collaborative Care
Fast Access
Advanced Diagnostics
Our North York facility using on-site imaging to pinpoint the source of pain.
Non-Surgical Options
Targeted, minimally invasive procedures to restore function and mobility.
Interventional pain procedures performed to date
Years of specialized pain management experience
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Patient-reported satisfaction based on post-visit surveys
Image-guided injections performed monthly
Explore Our Full Range of Pain Management Solutions
Learn about our pain management treatments and explore the options available at Silver Pain Centre.
Book a Consultation for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
You don't have to manage Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) alone. The team at Silver Pain Centre provides OHIP-covered consultations to help identify the source of your discomfort and provide a roadmap to recovery. Whether you prefer an in-person visit or a virtual appointment, we will review your self-referral within 72 hours to help you reclaim your quality of life.