What are the signs and symptoms of CRPS?

What are the signs and symptoms of CRPS?

CRPS type 1 usually presents with a history of a very minor trauma or may even present with the patient having no recollection of an injury at all. In contrast, the initial history for CRPS type 2 will consist of a major injury with gross nerve damage. Rarely, cerebrovascular accidents or myocardial infarctions may be complicated by CRPS. The most common symptom of CRPS is burning pain. Although CRPS usually occurs in an extremity, it can occur anywhere in the body, including the face or major joints, such as the knee or shoulder. Because this syndrome demonstrates an abnormality involving sympathetic nerves, the affected areas can encompass unusual non-dermatomal distributions. Neurologic abnormalities such as allodynia and hyperesthesia are common with CRPS but can occur with somatic neuropathies as well. Depending on the stage of the disease varying degrees of color, temperature, sweating, and trophic changes may be present. Motor and sensory dysfunctions are less common manifestations.