What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (formerly Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy [RSD])?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a type of neuropathic (relating to nerves) pain that is infrequent in adults and children, and can be very severe. There are several differences in pediatric CRPS from that in adults. Most children recover from it. It is most common in active (athletes, dancers) female adolescents of high-achievement oriented families. It tends to occur in the lower legs and feet and usually does not progress to the “crippled up,” withered appearance that can occur in adults with the syndrome. CRPS in children appears to respond well to aggressive physical therapy, medication and behavioral medicine. Sometimes nerve blocks are used to interrupt the pain cycle or to allow physical therapy to be done if it is otherwise too painful. We stress that the information available on the Internet is predominantly related to adults and often paints a picture that does not apply to children with this pain syndrome.
