Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, is best described in terms of an injury to a nerve or soft tissue that does not follow the normal healing path regardless of magnitude. It is a chronic neurological syndrome characterized by a severe burning pain, pathological changes in the skin and bone, excessive sweating, tissue swelling, and extreme sensitivity to touch. There are two types of CRPS, Type I and Type II.
Physicians can diagnosis this condition with a thorough history and physical exam of the patient, a bone scan, sympathetic nervous system tests, x-rays, or an MRI. When treated early, CRPS can respond to a series of nerve blocks performed in the office. If the condition has progressed, a multidisciplinary approach is needed.
Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a painful condition and skin sensitivity that can continue for months or even years. It begins with a bout of shingles, but continues long after the shingles rash heals. The pain results from damage to the nerve fibers during the shingles infection. The pain of PHN can be felt in the same area as the pain and rash of shingles, though it may span smaller or larger areas than the original rash site. Patients have described the pain of this condition as deep and aching, as a fire sensation under the skin, as electrical shocks, and as unbearable shooting pain. For some PHN patients, a light touch, the pressure of a shirt, a gust of wind, or brushing the hair, can bring tears to the eyes. In other sufferers, the painful area is sensitive to slight changes in temperature. Depression is common because of the severe pain and social isolation that can occur.
A variety of treatments have been used to treat this condition. Medications, acupuncture, electrical stimulation or TENS unit, cold packs, and interventional therapy such as nerve blocks have all been used to treat post-herpetic neuralgia. Speak with your healthcare provider immediately if you think you may be developing or have had shingles, early therapy may help to shorten the duration of symptoms.
