CRPS II

[JMI]

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome II

CRPS Type II (also referred to as Causalgia) - cases in which a distinct "major" nerve injury has occurred

* The presence of continuing pain, allodynia, or hyperalgesia after a nerve injury, not necessarily limited to the distribution of the injured nerve
* Evidence at some time of edema, changes in skin blood flow (skin color changes, skin temperature changes more than 1.1°C difference from the homologous body part), or abnormal sudomotor activity in the region of pain
* This diagnosis is excluded by the existence of conditions that would otherwise account for the degree of pain and dysfunction.

My roommates GF has an ongoing battle with this as a result of an ankle injury at work. She has had somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 operations so far. Also, she has a device in her back that stops the pain signals (ankle) from reaching her brain.

She went to the Doctor for a tooth problem and was given two root canals, and even though her nerves are gone in those teeth, she is experiencing a great deal of pain there because of CRPS II. She always has pain, she rarely sleeps more than 1-2 hours a day (no kidding) and she is being told there is nothing further that can be done.

She is an absolute joy to be around, is a great person and somehow deals with the pain without complaining. We're talking about one tough woman here (28 yrs old).

She injured the ankle about 4-5 years ago.

I was just wondering if anyone has heard of this condition, or knows of any Doctors who have had success dealing with CRPS II? Any success stories? Yes she has doctors but I am thinking outside the box. I am confident that with all of the injuries soldiers deal with in combat and training that this may be a condition someone has heard of or dealt with.

Thank you for your time.