Is Chronic Pelvic Pain a form of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
Author: Thomas I. Janicki, MD I would like to propose, that Chronic Pelvic Pain is a form of the entity referred to as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Complex Regional Pain Syndromes (CRPS) I and II have been recognized for over a century as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Causalgia (Wilson 1999), (Stanton-Hicks, Janig et al. 1995). Both of the syndromes are characterized by chronic pain usually out of proportion to the injury and a constellation of symptoms involving the autonomic nervous system (Baron and Janig 1998), (Birklein, Riedl et al. 1998), (Schurmann, Gradl et al. 2000). In the majority of the patients, the pain can be improved by sympathetic block or regional sympathectomy. The clinical features of the CRPS include chronic pain, increased sensitivity to touch and vibrations, a difference in the temperature, perfusion, sweating and appearance of the skin between the involved and uninvolved side (Sieweke, Birklein et al. 1999). The concept of Sympathetically Maintained Pain
