Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Policy Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that usually starts after an injury, surgery, or medical event such as a stroke. It usually affects an arm or leg, and might be diagnosed when the ongoing pain is out of proportion to the initial event.

Symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome include:

  • Ongoing burning or throbbing pain, usually in a limb
  • swelling
  • Sensitivity to touch
  • Sensitivity to cold
  • Changes in skin color or texture
  • Hair and nail growth changes in the affected area
  • Changes in skin temperature
  • Joint stiffness or swelling
  • Muscle spasms
  • Muscle weakness

In some people, symptoms will go away on their own, but some people may have the effects of CRPS for years.

There are two types of CRPS:

  • Type 1, which is also called reflex sympathetic dystrophy, happens after an injury or illness that didn't damage nerves in the affected area. This is the most common type of CRPS.
  • Type 2 happens after a nerve injury in the affected area.

Departments and Programs Who Treat This Condition

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Anesthesiology

The Department of Anesthesiology works closely with other clinicians across BMC to perform essential services across a wide range of procedures and conditions, including services …
department

Anesthesia Pain Clinic

BMC’s Anesthesia Pain Clinic helps patients to manage chronic pain by providing many different types of care, all under x-ray guidance.