Improving the diagnosis and treatment of CRPS: insights from a clinical immunologist's personal experience with an underrecognized neuroinflammatory disorder

Abstract

Complex regional pain syndrome is a neuroinflammatory condition associated with overactive glial cells that can be challenging to diagnose and treat. Early recognition and treatment are thought to be critical for good outcomes, yet many patients experience a delay in diagnosis and have difficulty accessing expert medical care. While there are no universally effective treatments, there are several promising new therapies, but these are not widely available. Some of the specific barriers to diagnosis and treatment are reviewed, with suggestions as to how they might be eliminated, leading to better care for all patients with CRPS.