WHO CAN GET COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME (CRPS)?

Who is more likely to develop CRPS?

The very simple answer to this question is that anyone can get Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

Studies suggest that both men and women can be susceptible to CRPS. However from the available research it has been found that CRPS is **more common in women than in men at a ratio of 3-4:1 (de Mos, M. et al. 2007) and the average age is around 43 years old**. However in the de Mos, M 2007 study it was stated that the highest incidence rates in a certain age group of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in females was actually between 61-70 years of age. That is not to say that men can be affected nor that it is not in under 40 years because it is not true.

In a UK study undertaken (2015) Shenker, N. et al. they found that out of the 240 patient study that:

“… 72.5% were female (2.6:1), with a mean age at symptoms onset of 43 years, and were left-handed more than expected (21.8% versus 10% in the general population). “

It is considered that it is rarely in the elderly. The professionals are now seeing more and more patients between the ages of 20-35 years old.
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There is not one gender, race, age or country that is more susceptible to CRPS than another, it can be literally anyone who can ‘get’ CRPS/RSD. Children can be affected by the condition; the studies across the world believe that it is rarely seen in children under the age of 5 years old, but this does NOT mean children under 5 can’t be diagnosed with CRPS because even though it is rare there are cases around the world. The youngest child diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS was just 3 years of age. 90% of child cases reported are females in the range of 8 – 16 years and the average of children suffering with CRPS are 13 years. According to a research study undertaken in Denmark Henneberg, S.W. et al. (2003) it was stated that:

Among physicians in Denmark it is not common knowledge that CRPS also affects children. It is not described in paediatric textbooks and until 1978 there were only eight published case reports. CRPS is seen in older children and teenagers and the pain is often located in a leg.

Also according to Henneberg S.W. et al:

CRPS is more common among girls than boys (approx. 4:1).

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In a recent study done by Pons, T. et al. (2015) on the potential risk factors for CRPS, they found that:

“Potential risk factors identified (strong weighting against bias, good quality, and relevance) across the 16 papers are as follows: being female (particularly postmenopausal); obtaining a fracture of the distal radius; suffering an ankle dislocation or intra-articular fracture; and reports of higher than usual levels of pain in the early phases after trauma.”

In a study done in the Netherlands by de Mos, M. et al (2007) they studied a register of 600,000 patients and they found that:

The estimated overall incidence rate of CRPS was 26.2 per 100,000 person years (95% CI: 23.0-29.7).

So this would mean that 1 person in every 3,800 are diagnosed with CRPS formerly RSD. This may not seem a lot however this figure will keep on rising through the future years as the incidence of chronic pain in general will keep rising. In the UK it is estimated at around 15,000 people have this condition but around 8 MILLION people in the UK suffer from chronic pain. This is a huge number and will only keep on rising every year alongside the cost to the Governments around the world in treatment, care, lack of employment, social needs, medication, benefits and disability payments.
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CITED STUDIES / RESEARCH

de Mos, M. et al. (2007) ‘The incidence of complex regional pain syndrome: a population based study,’ May 2007. Journal of Pain & NCBI NIH. Vol 129(1-2) pp 12-20. Epub 7 November 2006. Available from: <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17084977> PMID: 17084977
Henneberg, S.W., et al. (2003) ‘Reflex Dystrophy affects children too,’ 9 June 2003. Ugeskr Laeger. Vol 165(24) pp 2482-5. Available from: <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12872468>
Pons, T. et al. (2015) ‘Potential Risk Factors for the Onset of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1: A Systematic Literature Review,’ Anesthesiology Research and Practice. 2015. Vol 2015. FULL TEXT Available from: <http://www.hindawi.com/journals/arp/2015/956539/>
Shenker, N. et al (2015) ‘Establishing the characteristics for patients with chronic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: the value of the CRPS-UK Registry,’ British Journal of Pain. May 2015. Vol 9 No.2 pp 122-128. Available from: <http://bjp.sagepub.com/content/9/2/122.full > doi: 10.1177/2049463714541423

REFERRED TO WEBSITES and ARTICLES

Lorimer Mosely, Body In Mind ‘What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – In Plain English,’ 9 December 2009. Available from: <http://www.bodyinmind.org/what-is-complex-regional-pain-syndrome-in-plain-english/>

Last Updated: 02/06/2017