Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is one of the most challenging chronic pain conditions facing patients and medical professionals today. Characterized by prolonged and excessive pain—usually following an injury or surgery—CRPS often leads to sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunction. For sufferers, daily life becomes a struggle not just with pain, but with physical limitations and emotional distress.
Pain management specialist Jordan Sudberg has dedicated much of his career to helping patients cope with and recover from chronic pain conditions like CRPS. With a background in regenerative medicine and interventional pain treatments, Sudberg takes a multifaceted and personalized approach to CRPS that combines innovation, science, and compassion.
Understanding CRPS: A Complex and Misunderstood Condition
CRPS typically affects one limb and can develop after trauma, such as a fracture, sprain, or surgery. Its hallmark symptoms include:
- Persistent burning or throbbing pain
- Swelling and sensitivity to touch
- Changes in skin temperature and color
- Limited range of motion or motor dysfunction
What makes CRPS so complex is that the pain is disproportionate to the original injury, and the underlying cause is often linked to abnormal responses in the peripheral and central nervous systems.
“CRPS isn’t just a pain problem—it’s a nervous system disorder,” explains Jordan Sudberg. “Treating it requires more than one solution. It’s about retraining the body and brain to stop misfiring pain signals.”
1. Physical Therapy: Movement as Medicine
Though it may seem counterintuitive to move a painful limb, physical therapy is one of the most critical components of CRPS treatment. Gentle, guided movement helps reduce stiffness, improve circulation, and prevent muscle atrophy.
Dr. Sudberg emphasizes desensitization techniques, stretching, and gradual range-of-motion exercises as essential tools. “The goal isn’t to push through pain blindly,” he says. “It’s to reintroduce safe movement in a controlled environment, helping the nervous system regain balance.”
2. Medications for Symptom Control
While there’s no one-size-fits-all drug for CRPS, various medications can help control symptoms:
- NSAIDs to reduce inflammation
- Gabapentin or pregabalin for nerve pain
- Tricyclic antidepressants for chronic pain modulation
- Topical lidocaine or capsaicin for localized relief
Jordan Sudberg notes that while medications can provide temporary relief, they’re not a long-term solution alone. “Medications should be part of a broader plan—not the entire plan,” he advises.
3. Nerve Blocks and Injections
In cases where pain is severe or unresponsive to conservative therapies, sympathetic nerve blocks or spinal injections may be used. These procedures help reduce abnormal nerve activity and give patients a window of pain relief in which to pursue physical rehabilitation.
“Interventional treatments can break the pain cycle,” says Sudberg. “But their success depends on what the patient does next—getting back to movement, therapy, and lifestyle adjustments.”
4. Mirror Therapy and Graded Motor Imagery
One of the most intriguing therapies for CRPS is mirror therapy, which uses a mirror to trick the brain into seeing the affected limb as moving normally. This visual feedback can help recalibrate neural pathways and reduce pain perception.
Dr. Sudberg has successfully incorporated Graded Motor Imagery (GMI)—a progression of visual and mental exercises—to help patients regain function. “It’s a neuroplastic approach,” he explains. “You’re literally retraining the brain to perceive the limb differently.”
5. Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
For patients with severe, treatment-resistant CRPS, Spinal Cord Stimulation is a promising option. This involves implanting a small device that delivers electrical impulses to the spinal cord, interrupting pain signals before they reach the brain.
According to Jordan Sudberg, SCS has become a game-changer for select CRPS patients. “We’ve seen significant improvements in quality of life and pain reduction,” he says, while cautioning that SCS is reserved for those who have exhausted other therapies.
6. Psychological Support and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Chronic pain isn’t just physical—it affects mental health as well. Many CRPS patients experience anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion.
Sudberg advocates for integrated care models that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and support groups. “When you treat the whole person, not just the pain, outcomes improve dramatically,” he states.
Final Thoughts: A Holistic Path Forward with Jordan Sudberg
CRPS may be complex, but it is not unbeatable. With the right combination of therapies, education, and support, many patients can regain function, reduce pain, and restore quality of life.
Jordan Sudberg’s approach emphasizes that no single treatment works in isolation. Instead, progress comes through commitment to a personalized and evolving plan—one that addresses the physical, neurological, and emotional aspects of the condition.
For those living with CRPS, hope lies in innovation, perseverance, and expert care—and few embody that more fully than Dr. Sudberg.