CRPS, RSDS, TYPE I AND TYPE II - WHAT SHALL WE CALL IT TODAY?

There have been so many questions about the name confusion surrounding CRPS in the last couple of years.

- Is there a difference between CRPS and RSDS?

- What are the differences between CRPS and RSDS?

One Dr tells me "You have RSD" while another says, "No, it is CRPS.", and a third tells me it is the same thing. Now I am totally confused.

- Which is the right term then?

- Why is a there a CRPS Type I and CRPS Type II; and what is the difference between the two?

COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME

CRPS, also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, is fairly new to the lexicon.

CRPS TYPE I is what, until recently has always been known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome, RSDS or classic RSD. It involves soft tissue injuries such as burns, sprains, strains, tears, and most of the medical issues that end in “itis” ; bursitis, arthritis, and tendonitis to name a few. On this website, and most places on the internet and in the medical community it is now referred to as CRPS. It can involve minor nerve damage.

CRPS TYPE II involves damage to a major nerve. It used to be called Causalgia. CRPS Type II also involves a clearly defined nerve injury. This is not always true of Type I where the source of the injury is not always known. 

So gradually everyone, Doctors, the medical community, and patients as well, have been switching over to the new language; CRPS Types I and II.