Medical Malpractice

There are two types of CRPS: Type I and Type II; both have similar symptoms but have differing outcomes.

CRPS Type I

CRPS Type I (CRPS I) often occurs after an illness or injury that did not directly damage the nerves.  CRPS I is characterized by severe, burning pain accompanied by changes in the bone and skin.  Additionally, sweating, swelling and extreme sensitivity to touch are present.  Moving or touching the affected areas is often intolerable, and eventually the joints will stiffen from lack of use, and the muscles and bone will atrophy.  Some or all of these symptoms can migrate to other parts of the body.

CRPS Type II

CRPS Type II, often called Causalgia, is characterized by extreme pain in response to an actual peripheral nerve injury.  It is characterized by many of the symptoms of CRPS I including severe, burning pain, but it does not migrate from the site of injury like CRPS I does.  The direct cause of CRPS II is an injury or trauma to a large nerve. This injury or trauma can be a minor cut or as extreme as a gunshot wound – the level of injury does not seem to play a part in the development of symptoms related to CRPS II.

Treatment

There are a number of therapies available for the treatment of both types of CRPS although most are palliative in nature.  The recommended treatments are:

• Rehabilitation therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Medication
• Sympathetic Nerve Blocks
• Surgical Sympathectomy
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Other types of neural stimulation
• Intrathecal drug pumps.

There are also a number of alternative therapies that have been used to treat CRPS with meaningful results, including:

• Behavior modification
• Acupuncture
• Relaxation techniques
• Biofeedback
• Progressive muscle relaxation techniques
• Guided motion therapy
• Chiropractic treatment

Lastly, there are some emerging treatments available for the treatment of CRPS that show promise, including:

• Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)
• Ketamine
• Hyperbaric oxygen chambers