The fascination of complex regional pain syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a pain disorder involving the somatosensory, the somatomotor and the sympathetic nervous systems. Based on experiments conducted by Bove (2009), it is suggested that changes in impulse activity in small-diameter afferents and postganglionic axons generated by neuritis can contribute to signs of early CRPS. The potential mechanisms involved are discussed. These mechanisms include the possibility that CRPS, a disorder of the central nervous system, may be caused by a nerve inflammation.