Scientists continue to unravel the mystery of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is a condition that develops after surgery or some other type of trauma. The patient develops exquisite pain and/or tenderness usually of one extremity (arm or leg). Symptoms of sweating, hair growth, swelling, and changes in skin color and temperature develop in that extremity. Changes in the nail growth and strength are also common symptoms of CRPS.

Baclofen is a drug that has been used to reduce spasticity by stopping the messages that go from the muscles to the spine. They do this by inhibiting the GABA receptors in the nervous system. The result is to prevent the release of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that send and receive signals between a neuron (nerve cell) and the rest of the body.

Scientists continue to unravel the mystery of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is a condition that develops after surgery or some other type of trauma. The patient develops exquisite pain and/or tenderness usually of one extremity (arm or leg). Symptoms of sweating, hair growth, swelling, and changes in skin color and temperature develop in that extremity. Changes in nail growth and nail strength are also common symptoms of CRPS.

Sometimes after trauma (even minor trauma) to human tissue, a chronic pain condition develops. Once called i>reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), this syndrome is now referred to as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

Sometimes after trauma (even minor trauma) to human tissue, a chronic pain condition develops. Once called i>reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), this syndrome is now referred to as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).

Treating chronic, long-term pain isn't easy. It's not like a toothache or broken bone, where you can pinpoint the pain and relieve it. Chronic pain is usually not as defined.

It's important for healthcare professionals to be able to tell the difference between a patient who has gotten used to their medications and those who have become addicted.

If you take a medication for pain, after a while, your body may become used to the medication in your body and eventually it will need a stronger dose to relieve the pain. If you don't take the medication, you feel more pain and discomfort, but you only feel the physical reaction to not having the medication.

Managing chronic pain can be quite difficult - to find the right combination of treatment and medications takes a lot of trial and error for many patients. One treatment that is becoming more common is using opioids (controlled drugs, narcotics) to try to lessen the pain. This means more people than ever have access to these medications and increases the potential of abuse.

Surgeons commonly use radiofrequency (heat) energy to cut small sensory nerves around the facet (spinal) joints that are causing patients' low back pain. The procedure is called a radiofrequency denervation (RFD).

Radiofrequency denervation is a minimally invasive procedure aimed at cutting the nerve to the facet (spinal) joint that's generating the pain signals. High heat delivered with a special probe (electrode) is used to burn through the nerve, cutting off sensory (pain) signals to the brain.