Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

An overview of complex regional pain syndrome.

This video is part of Strong Medicine's Underappreciated Diseases series. It is meant for educational purposes only, and is not intended to direct the diagnosis or management of any specific patient. I do not claim any notable expertise in this specific disease, and unfortunately, I am unable to provide individualized medical advice in response to comments posted here.

For more information on CRPS:

#CRPS #complexregionalpainsyndrome #chronicpain

[sunnylady]

My heart goes out to all experiencing this hellish pain <3

[suemarriott]

We need so much more awareness of this brutal condition ( CRPS) so thank you for video. I’ve suffered with this for over 30 years and not many medical professionals have even heard of it! It’s such an excruciating condition to live with on a daily basis we just need to be heard and believed! It’s also such a difficult condition to explain to others, family/friends because it’s basically an invisible illness apart from swelling and colour changes to the skin, but there’s so much more to it than that. Just find it frustrating that we are passed from pillar to post because of lack of education and we so need to educate the medical community to a much higher level. Maybe one day they will find a cure or at least a treatment to manage our pain better. We live in hope because that’s all we have. Respect to all of you living this internal inferno, hang on in there and never give up ….

[helene]

My mother has this, and when I learned that it is called suicide disease, I asked my mother to swear that she would not take her own life, she swore, and said to me that she would not do it. She would not want to hurt her family like that. Still praying for anything to give her easier life.

[christyinthecarolinas]

I got crps in 2006 from an injury when I was in law enforcement to my left ankle. It's now full body. It sucks. Thank you for spreading awareness! It took 9 years to find out what was wrong with me.

[cornelbacauanu]

Thank you for the effort to bring up this "Underappreciated disease".

[bonniegirl]

Great summary, Doc! I’ve had CRPS for 25yrs following partial herniation of 3 intervertebral disks in my neck. Your point about the need for therapy for patient AND family is spot on. My 20yr marriage ended after my spouse decided it was too hard to have a chronically ill spouse. He was never able to accept that some disorders just never heal.
Sending love to any other CRPS patients on here. Stay strong. ❤️

[Myesha]

I was diagnosed in November, a year and a half after rotator cuff and bicep repair surgery and being told I was "perfectly fine" and just wanted pain meds. Your video answered a lot of my questions. Thank you!

[Snailmash]

i was diagnosed with crps at 9 years old, my school counselor and i are planning on making it hopefully required for my school to do a presentation on it for every year of new sixth graders. i got tired of people asking, calling me a “f_cking cripple”, and being bullied because of my crutches or cane. The depression got to me, to the point of wanting to k!ll myself, and i’m hoping that raising awareness for it even just in my school will help not only me but also other people.

[MarkyBoy]

I suffer from this in my right foot and ankle. It is unrelenting. It is absolutely the most awful pain I have ever thing felt in my entire life. We need more awareness. I was diagnosed in 2019.

[MrDanielSultana]

This is so extremely helpful and understanding my current symptoms and my life living with CRPS since late 2016. I need everyone I know to watch this video to help them better understand my condition. Thank you Doctor

[blandsmith]

Thank you for posting this very informative video. I was diagnosed with RSD, now CRPS Type 1 back in 1995. The CRPS developed after an injury that occurred when I was on active duty in the US Navy. You described exactly what I have been dealing with for the past 26 years. I was alienated by my entire family as they didn't understand what CRPS encompassed. I have had VA doctors say its psychosomatic and refuse to recognize the diagnosis I was given by a non-VA doctor. I was very fortunate to find a physician that treats this debilitating disorder. Through videos like the one you posted, I am able to educate my family members on how life changing CRPS is to an individual. I have heard of a treatment option using Ketamine to "reset" the brain. I was told it is very expensive and experimental, but would be worth every cent if it provides any form of relief.

I have met other people who have family members with CRPS and they have gone through exactly what you described and what I have experienced. Alienation, depression, pain medicine dependence, etc. I sympathize with others with this syndrome and hope they can find a treatment regiment that works for them.

[spookygreg]

You seem like an amazing doctor! I wish more doctors were understanding of pain, especially in women and POC.

[Omnird]

My Wife is going through this ryte now and she's in terrible pain. And me as her husband feels powerless because there's nothing I can do but be there to comfort her and educate myself.

[serenaparker]

I was first diagnosed with this when I was about 14 years old. Today I go myofascial deep tissue needling. So far it has helped ease my suffering.

[Angel]

I thank you for making this video. RSD/CRPS has been trying to rule my world for 17yrs!! I never had a fighting chance though, because the insurance company denied me the "Stellar Ganglion block". It's crucial to get this injection within the first 6 months of getting RSD/CRPS. I'm still fighting for my medications to be paid, although theirs a court order in place. I also find myself still fighting with ER doctors, when I'm stuck in a flare up, I have no choice but to get, what I call a "Rescue shot".. it's a shot of pain medication, that goes right into the muscle. I understand that doctors go to "school", and I understand they have a "degree" in medicine, but I know my body than anyone, and after I get the shot, not only does the pain subside, my blood pressure goes back to 119/80, but the painful rash goes away as well!! Take care and stay blessed! 💙, ✌, 🍕grease!

[-.-]

I need to share this video with people I know. When I try to explain my condition, they don't believe that its real. I had this for three years now. I was 14 when it started. Thank you for spreading awareness about this disorder. It means the world.

[varisthashaw]

I was preparing the topic 'COMPLICATIONS OF COLLES FRACTURE' for my college exam today and I opened my YouTube to this. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[nateone]

it sucks how little there is out there talking about it considering how much us with it suffers. thank you and the amount of things CRPS can affect is like a joke your organs your endocrine system and sweating which I believe is part of that. thank you for the video many of us go years figuring out how to just manage and crps is resistant as heck ketamine has been a life saver I couldn't walk after surgery (just taking the metal out after traumatic break) and I got walking again. opioids help some of us that wouldn't function otherwise Cannabis does also but the disease seems to overcome alot of trials of medicines even biologic drugs becoming ineffective. activity is the best thing when you can because you can slide back easy

[lepardpaw]

Thank you so much for this explanation. My husband’s foot was ran over by a fork truck at work over a year ago and the doctor said they suspected CRPS. I had never heard of this before. We struggled trying to get workers comp to agree with the diagnosis because the physician he sees did not explain this very well.

[akikazucoco]

Thanks for explain CRPS. I m in pain for 7 years now and i take a lot of medicin and have done many surgeries. In my country people doesnt understand at all. With this video my mother can undestand more easely.