Der Nervenarzt
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Complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS) occur as the inadequate response to painful trauma in a distal extremity. With CRPS I (sympathetic reflex dystrophy), no lesion of the nerve is present. Aside from sensory disturbances, burning deep spontaneous pain and mechanical allodynia are characteristic. ⋯ With slight spontaneous pain, a conservative therapeutic method may be applied (analgesics, rest, raised position). In case of insufficient improvement and in difficult cases, the effect of intervention (sympathetic blockade) should be tested and possibly a blockade series performed. After reduced spontaneous pain, physiotherapy should be increased stepwise.