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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome can make pain feel larger, sharper, and more disruptive than expected after an injury, surgery, fracture, sprain, or medical event. A hand, arm, foot, ankle, knee, or leg may remain painful long after the original injury should have healed, making touch, movement, temperature changes, walking, work, sleep, and daily routines difficult.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, we help patients with suspected or diagnosed CRPS understand what may be contributing to their pain and which non-opioid treatment options may help improve function. CRPS can be complex, but care should still feel organized, thorough, and personal.

We offer opioid-free, interventional pain care with a strong focus on education, outcomes, and restored quality of life. Patients are cared for by Dr. Milind Patel, Dr. Jill Kalariya, Brian Brown, PA, and our interventional pain management team through a concierge, white-glove model designed to make care feel clear and supportive.

To schedule a CRPS consultation in Marlton or Collingswood, NJ, call Peak Spine & Sports Medicine at (833) 377-7325 or request an appointment online today. Telehealth consults are available for convenience when appropriate. We proudly serve patients in Marlton, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding communities.

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What Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, often called CRPS, is a chronic pain condition that usually affects one limb, such as an arm, hand, leg, ankle, or foot.

CRPS often develops after an injury, surgery, fracture, sprain, crush injury, or other medical event. The pain may feel out of proportion to the original injury, and symptoms may continue even after the tissue appears to have healed.

CRPS can involve the nerves, blood vessels, skin, muscles, joints, immune response, and pain-processing pathways. This is why symptoms may include more than pain alone. Patients may notice changes in swelling, skin color, skin temperature, sweating, sensitivity, stiffness, weakness, or movement.

CRPS may affect:

  • Hand
  • Wrist
  • Arm
  • Shoulder
  • Foot
  • Ankle
  • Knee
  • Leg
  • Hip or buttock region in selected pain patterns
  • A limb after fracture, surgery, sprain, or injury

CRPS is sometimes still referred to by older names, including Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or RSD. The current term, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, better reflects the way this condition can involve multiple systems in the body.

CRPS is generally divided into two types:

CRPS Type 1 occurs without a clearly confirmed major nerve injury. This type may develop after a sprain, fracture, surgery, immobilization, or other injury where pain and sensitivity persist beyond the expected recovery period.

CRPS Type 2 occurs when there is a known nerve injury. Symptoms may look similar to CRPS Type 1, but the diagnosis includes evidence of nerve damage.

The distinction can matter clinically, but patients with either type may experience severe pain, sensitivity, swelling, color changes, temperature changes, and difficulty using the affected limb. At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, the team focuses on understanding the pain pattern, functional limits, medical history, prior treatments, and whether the symptoms fit a CRPS diagnosis.

CRPS can feel different from ordinary injury pain.

Patients may describe burning, stabbing, throbbing, electric, aching, crushing, or deep pain. Some people feel pain from light touch, clothing, bedsheets, water, air movement, or temperature changes. Others feel swelling, stiffness, weakness, tremors, or a sense that the affected limb no longer feels normal.

Symptoms may include:

  • Severe burning pain
  • Extreme sensitivity to touch
  • Pain from light contact or clothing
  • Swelling in the affected limb
  • Skin color changes
  • Skin temperature changes
  • Sweating change
  • Shiny or thin-looking skin
  • Hair or nail changes
  • Joint stiffness
  • Muscle weakness
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Difficulty walking, gripping, typing, lifting, or using the affected limb
  • Pain that interferes with sleep, work, travel, exercise, or daily routines
  • Pain that feels out of proportion to the original injury
  • Tremor, spasms, or abnormal movement

CRPS symptoms can change over time. Some patients have symptoms that flare and settle. Others notice gradual progression if pain, guarding, stiffness, and reduced use continue.

CRPS often begins after an injury or medical event, but the exact reason one person develops CRPS while another does not is not always clear.

The condition may involve abnormal pain signaling, inflammation, changes in blood flow, nerve sensitivity, immune system activity, and changes in how the brain and spinal cord process pain. In many cases, the nervous system appears to remain highly activated after the original injury.

CRPS may develop after:

  • Fracture
  • Sprain
  • Surgery
  • Crush injury
  • Work injury
  • Sports injury
  • Auto injury
  • Fall
  • Immobilization in a cast or brace
  • Nerve injury
  • Stroke or another medical event in selected cases

Sometimes the original injury seems small compared with the severity of symptoms that follow. That mismatch can be frustrating for patients, especially when imaging or routine testing does not fully explain how severe the pain feels.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine takes that concern seriously. CRPS is a real pain condition, and a thoughtful evaluation can help determine whether the symptoms fit CRPS or another nerve, joint, spine, vascular, or musculoskeletal condition.

CRPS is diagnosed through a careful clinical evaluation.

There is no single blood test or imaging study that confirms every case of CRPS. Diagnosis is usually based on symptoms, physical exam findings, medical history, and ruling out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.

The evaluation may include a review of:

  • How symptoms started
  • Pain location and spread
  • Skin color or temperature changes
  • Swelling
  • Sensitivity to touch
  • Sweating changes
  • Range of motion
  • Strength
  • Reflexes and nerve symptoms
  • Prior imaging or testing
  • Prior treatments and response
  • Daily limitations and activity goals
  • The original injury, surgery, fracture, or medical event

Imaging or testing may be used to look for other problems, such as fracture, arthritis, nerve compression, vascular issues, infection, or another condition. The purpose is to make sure the diagnosis fits before a treatment plan is recommended.

Why Choose Peak Spine & Sports Medicine for CRPS Care?

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine was built around a simple standard: this should be the kind of pain management practice we would want our own family members to visit.

Initial consultations are designed to be thorough, personal, and highly focused. The team takes time to understand where the pain started, how it has changed, what has already been tried, and what daily activities the patient needs to regain.

For one patient, the priority may be walking without fear of a flare. For another, it may be using the hand again, sleeping through the night, returning to work, driving more comfortably, exercising, traveling, or staying active with family.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine offers:

  • Concierge, white-glove pain management care
  • A non-opioid approach to pain care
  • Ivy League trained professionals
  • Double board-certified pain management physicians
  • Cutting-edge interventional techniques and technology
  • Advanced chronic pain evaluation
  • CRPS-focused treatment planning
  • Nerve blocks when appropriate
  • Sympathetic block evaluation when appropriate
  • Telehealth consults when appropriate
  • DRG Stimulation evaluation for selected CRPS pain patterns
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation evaluation for selected chronic pain patterns
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulation evaluation when appropriate
  • A helpful staff that works to reduce the burden on patients
  • Insurance access for eligible PPO/POS patients with out-of-network benefits

Care is led by Dr. Milind Patel and Dr. Jill Kalariya, double board-certified pain management physicians who perform advanced interventional procedures in the outpatient surgery center. Brian Brown, PA supports patients through conservative care, diagnostic workups, imaging coordination, therapy recommendations, and follow-up planning, helping each patient move through care with clarity.

CRPS care requires attention to both pain and function. At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, the team evaluates the full pain pattern, prior injury, neurologic symptoms, sensitivity, movement limits, emotional burden, sleep disruption, prior treatments, and patient goals before recommending a plan.

Our practice is selective with insurance because the model is built around quality, not volume. We work for the patient, not the insurance company. That gives the team more time to listen, explain, coordinate care, and work for the patient rather than designing the visit around an insurance company’s schedule.

Visit our Why Choose Us page to learn more.

How Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Treated?

CRPS treatment is usually most effective when it is started early and approached from multiple angles.

The treatment plan may include movement-based rehabilitation, desensitization, non-opioid medication strategies, nerve blocks, sympathetic blocks, neuromodulation, and support for the emotional and functional impact of chronic pain. The right plan depends on the stage of symptoms, affected limb, severity of sensitivity, movement limits, prior treatments, and patient goals.

Treatment options may include:

  • Physical therapy or occupational therapy referral
  • Desensitization and graded movement
  • Non-opioid medication coordination when appropriate
  • Nerve Blocks
  • DRG Stimulation
  • Sympathetic Blocks
  • Stellate Ganglion Blocks for selected upper-extremity CRPS patterns
  • Lumbar Sympathetic Blocks for selected lower-extremity CRPS patterns
  • Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation
  • Trigger Point Injections when muscle guarding contributes to pain
  • Joint & Extremity Injections when a joint source is also involved
  • Psychological support or pain coping strategies when appropriate

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, CRPS treatment is built around practical goals: using the affected limb more comfortably, improving tolerance to movement and touch, reducing flare intensity, sleeping better, returning to work when possible, and improving quality of life.

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy for CRPS

When a limb becomes painful and sensitive, patients may naturally avoid using it. Over time, reduced movement can lead to stiffness, weakness, swelling, guarding, and more disability. Physical therapy or occupational therapy can help patients gradually restore motion, strength, coordination, and function.

Therapy for CRPS may include gentle mobility work, desensitization, graded exposure, strengthening, mirror therapy, functional retraining, gait work, hand therapy, and home exercises depending on the affected area.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not provide physical therapy in-house, but the team may refer patients to outside physical or occupational therapy when movement retraining, desensitization, strength, balance, gait, hand function, or functional restoration is part of the plan.

Interventional treatments may help some patients participate more comfortably in therapy by reducing pain enough to move, stretch, walk, grip, or use the affected limb with less guarding.

Nerve Blocks for CRPS

Nerve blocks may be used in selected CRPS cases to help reduce pain and better understand which pain pathways are involved.

A nerve block places medication near a targeted nerve or group of nerves. For some patients, this may provide temporary relief, reduce sensitivity, or make it easier to participate in therapy and movement.

The response to a nerve block can also provide useful information. If symptoms improve after a targeted block, the team may better understand which nerves or pain pathways are contributing to the condition.

Nerve blocks are not a cure for CRPS, and relief varies. They are often considered as one part of a broader plan that may include therapy, desensitization, neuromodulation evaluation, and other non-opioid strategies.

Sympathetic Blocks for CRPS

Sympathetic blocks may be considered when CRPS symptoms appear connected to sympathetic nervous system activity, such as changes in temperature, color, sweating, swelling, or severe limb sensitivity.

For upper-extremity CRPS involving the hand, wrist, arm, or shoulder, a stellate ganglion block may be considered. This targets sympathetic nerves in the neck region that influence the upper limb.

For lower-extremity CRPS involving the foot, ankle, knee, or leg, a lumbar sympathetic block may be considered. This targets sympathetic nerves in the low back region that influence the lower limb.

Sympathetic blocks may help selected patients reduce pain, improve blood flow changes, decrease sensitivity, and participate more comfortably in therapy. Relief may be temporary or longer-lasting depending on the patient and the stage of CRPS.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, sympathetic block evaluation is based on the patient’s symptoms, exam, affected limb, prior response to treatment, and overall plan.

Spinal Cord Stimulation for CRPS

Spinal Cord Stimulation may be considered for selected chronic CRPS pain patterns, especially when pain is widespread, persistent, or has not responded well enough to other treatment options.

Spinal Cord Stimulation uses a small, implanted device to send controlled electrical impulses near the spinal cord. These signals can change the way pain signals are processed before they reach the brain.

Like DRG Stimulation, Spinal Cord Stimulation usually begins with a temporary trial. This allows the patient and physician to evaluate whether stimulation meaningfully reduces pain and improves function before considering a permanent implant.

Spinal Cord Stimulation may be considered for CRPS, failed back surgery syndrome, neuropathic pain, and other chronic pain conditions in carefully selected patients.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for CRPS

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be considered when pain appears to involve a specific peripheral nerve or localized area outside the spine.

This treatment places a small stimulation lead near a targeted peripheral nerve. The goal is to modulate pain signaling from that nerve region and reduce pain in the affected area.

For selected CRPS patients, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be discussed when pain is more localized and the target nerve can be identified. It may also be considered when the pain pattern does not clearly fit a spinal cord or DRG stimulation approach.

The right neuromodulation option depends on the pain location, diagnosis, anatomy, prior treatment response, and goals.

When Is CRPS Treatment Urgent?

CRPS symptoms should be evaluated promptly, especially when pain, swelling, sensitivity, stiffness, or skin changes are progressing.

Early diagnosis and treatment may help reduce the risk of worsening stiffness, weakness, functional loss, and long-term disability. Patients should also seek urgent medical care if symptoms suggest infection, blood clot, new fracture, severe vascular changes, progressive weakness, new numbness, fever, or sudden worsening after injury or surgery.

CRPS can overlap with other serious conditions. A careful evaluation helps make sure symptoms are not being caused by another urgent problem.

Patients may feel frustrated when symptoms are difficult to explain or when other people do not understand why light touch, temperature, movement, or daily activity causes severe pain. Chronic pain can also affect sleep, mood, work, family life, exercise, and confidence with movement.

At Peak Spine & Sports Medicine, the team focuses on helping patients regain a sense of direction. That may mean improving use of the affected limb, lowering sensitivity, reducing flare frequency, walking farther, sleeping better, returning to work, or building a more stable plan after months or years of uncertainty.

CRPS care often takes patience. Progress may happen gradually, and treatment may involve several coordinated steps. The right plan should be realistic, medically grounded, and focused on function.

The cost of CRPS treatment depends on the evaluation, imaging or diagnostic needs, procedure recommended, facility, insurance benefits, and medical necessity requirements.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine primarily works with patients who have PPO or POS insurance plans with out-of-network benefits. The practice is out of network for most insurance plans, which allows the team to maintain a smaller, more personalized model with longer visits, tailored treatment plans, more education, and less pressure to rush patients through care.

Many patients are surprised to learn that out-of-network care with PPO/POS plan benefits are typically much more accessible than they expected. The Peak Spine & Sports Medicine team can help review benefits, explain the process, and determine whether the practice is a good fit.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not participate with EPO, HMO, Medicare, or Medicaid plans. This allows our office to see our new and existing patients quickly.

Patients visit Peak Spine & Sports Medicine in Marlton and Collingswood from Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding areas because they want high-level interventional pain care without an opioid-first approach.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not use opioids as a shortcut for pain care.

Our practice focuses on interventional procedures because many pain problems involve specific pathways, nerves, joints, muscles, or pain generators. CRPS often involves abnormal pain signaling, limb sensitivity, nervous system changes, and functional loss that require a more targeted plan than long-term opioid reliance.

Interventional pain management is designed to identify the source or pathway of pain and treat it more directly. For the right patient, CRPS care may include nerve blocks, sympathetic blocks, neuromodulation, therapy coordination, and other non-opioid strategies that support improved function and quality of life.

Schedule a CRPS Consultation in Marlton or Collingswood, NJ

For Complex Regional Pain Syndrome treatment in Marlton and Collingswood, NJ, contact Peak Spine & Sports Medicine at (833) 377-7325 or schedule a consultation online today. Our team will help determine whether the pain pattern, goals, and insurance benefits make our concierge interventional pain model the right fit.

We proudly serve patients in Marlton, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Philadelphia, and surrounding communities.

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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Marlton, NJ – FAQs

RSD stands for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, an older term often used for what is now called CRPS Type 1. Many patients still use the term RSD, but Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is the current medical term.

CRPS often develops after an injury, fracture, sprain, surgery, immobilization, nerve injury, or another medical event. The exact cause is not always clear, but abnormal pain signaling, inflammation, blood flow changes, and nervous system sensitivity may contribute.

Some patients report symptoms spreading beyond the original area, though this does not happen to everyone. Any new or spreading symptoms should be evaluated carefully to confirm whether CRPS or another condition is involved.

CRPS is diagnosed through clinical evaluation. The provider reviews symptoms, medical history, physical exam findings, skin changes, sensitivity, swelling, movement, prior injury, and testing when appropriate. Other conditions may need to be ruled out.

There is no guaranteed cure for CRPS. Some patients improve significantly, especially with early and coordinated treatment. Others need ongoing care to manage pain, sensitivity, movement, and function.

Early treatment may help reduce stiffness, sensitivity, weakness, guarding, and long-term functional loss. Patients with suspected CRPS should be evaluated promptly.

Treatment may include physical therapy or occupational therapy, desensitization, non-opioid medication strategies, nerve blocks, sympathetic blocks, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation, and other targeted pain treatments.

A sympathetic block targets part of the sympathetic nervous system that may be contributing to pain, temperature changes, color changes, sweating, or sensitivity. Stellate ganglion blocks may be used for upper-extremity symptoms, while lumbar sympathetic blocks may be used for lower-extremity symptoms.

Spinal Cord Stimulation may be considered for selected CRPS patients with persistent chronic pain that has not improved enough with other treatments. It usually begins with a temporary trial.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation may be considered when CRPS pain appears localized to a specific peripheral nerve or region. Candidacy depends on the pain pattern, anatomy, diagnosis, and prior treatment response.

Many patients benefit from physical or occupational therapy as part of CRPS care. Peak Spine & Sports Medicine does not provide therapy in-house, but the team may refer patients to outside therapy when movement, desensitization, strength, gait, hand function, or functional restoration is part of the plan.

Yes. Peak Spine & Sports Medicine is an opioid-free pain management practice. The team focuses on education, interventional procedures, neuromodulation when appropriate, therapy coordination, and treatment plans designed to improve function and quality of life.

In many cases, yes. Telehealth consults may be available to review symptoms, discuss prior treatments, and determine whether an in-person exam or procedure consultation is appropriate.

Peak Spine & Sports Medicine accepts insurance and primarily works with PPO and POS plans that have out-of-network benefits. The practice does not participate with EPO, HMO, Medicare, or Medicaid plans. The team can help determine whether benefits may apply.