Shamloo Elite Spine & Pain Institute
CONDITIONS / NERVE & NEUROPATHIC PAIN

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

A challenging and often debilitating pain condition that requires specialized knowledge and a comprehensive approach to treatment. Dr. Shamloo is among a select group of physicians with advanced training and significant clinical experience managing CRPS.

What CRPS is

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome can develop after an injury, surgery, fracture, or other trauma, and may cause persistent pain that is often disproportionate to the original injury. Because CRPS can affect the nervous system in complex ways, early recognition and appropriate treatment can be especially important.

At Elite Spine & Pain Institute, Dr. Ben Shamloo has extensive experience treating patients with CRPS, and is among a select group of physicians with advanced training and significant clinical experience managing this complex condition.

Symptoms

CRPS often looks and feels different from ordinary post-injury pain. Symptoms may involve sensation, circulation, and movement in the affected limb at the same time.

01
Severe burning or aching pain
Often out of proportion to the original injury, and persisting well past the expected healing period.
02
Sensitivity to touch
Ordinarily harmless contact — clothing, bedsheets, a light touch — can become painful.
03
Swelling and skin changes
Swelling, changes in skin color or temperature, and abnormal sweating in the affected area.
04
Changes in movement or function
Stiffness, weakness, or difficulty using the limb, which can worsen as the condition progresses.

Comprehensive CRPS treatment

There is no single treatment that works for every patient with CRPS. Dr. Shamloo takes an individualized approach, evaluating the severity and characteristics of each patient’s condition before developing a treatment strategy tailored to their needs.

His experience includes treating CRPS in both acute and chronic stages, using a broad range of advanced interventional and minimally invasive therapies. Depending on the patient’s condition, treatment may include:

01
Targeted nerve & sympathetic blocks
Image-guided blocks used both to characterize the pain and to interrupt sympathetically maintained pain.
02
Advanced injection procedures
Precise, minimally invasive injections selected according to the affected region and stage of the condition.
03
Neuromodulation & spinal cord stimulation
Considered for appropriately selected patients, particularly in long-standing or treatment-resistant CRPS.
04
Regenerative medicine
Biologic therapies used, where appropriate, to support healing and function alongside interventional care.

Beyond pain intensity

For patients living with long-standing CRPS, Dr. Shamloo understands that treatment often requires looking beyond pain intensity alone. His goal is to address the multiple factors contributing to the condition while helping patients regain function and improve their quality of life.

Why specialized experience matters

Because CRPS is uncommon and can be difficult to diagnose and treat, choosing a physician with specialized experience matters. Dr. Shamloo’s extensive background in interventional pain management and minimally invasive pain procedures allows him to offer patients access to a wide range of treatment options under one practice.

CRPS care in Los Angeles & Studio City

If you or someone you love is living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Elite Spine & Pain Institute provides specialized CRPS care in Los Angeles and Studio City, serving patients throughout Southern California.

You do not have to navigate this complex condition alone. A comprehensive evaluation can help determine which treatment options may be appropriate for your individual condition and stage of CRPS.