What condition is known to trigger complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is often triggered by an initial injury or trauma to a limb. This condition typically arises after an event such as a fracture, surgery, or a soft tissue injury, leading to an abnormal response in the nervous system. The pain experienced in CRPS is disproportionate to the severity of the original injury and may be accompanied by swelling, changes in skin temperature and color, and motor dysfunction in the affected area.

The specific mechanisms that lead to CRPS are not entirely understood, but the initial trauma seems to initiate a cascade of neurogenic inflammation and abnormal sensory processing, which contributes to the chronic pain and other symptoms associated with the syndrome. Understanding the link between trauma and the onset of CRPS is crucial for diagnosis and subsequent treatment strategies.

Other conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, systemic arthritis, and neuropathy may involve pain but are not directly linked as a clear triggering factor for CRPS. They may involve different pathophysiological processes that do not specifically induce the acute pain and subsequent complications characteristic of CRPS.