Research on Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition characterized by a constellation of sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunction. The worldwide prevalence of CRPS is cited to be 5.5 to 26.2 per 100,000 people per year and is 3 to 4 times more prevalent in females. CRPS can be a debilitating disorder that drastically impacts quality of life. Despite this, limited treatment options for these individuals currently exist and many patients do not experience pain relief. In addition, research exploring the mechanisms and potential therapies for CRPS is quite limited.

 

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may be a beneficial therapy for patients with CRPS. Sham controlled studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated that high frequency rTMS stimulation applied to the primary motor cortex reduces symptoms of neuropathic pain in heterogeneous groups of patients. In CRPS, initial evidence using rTMS have demonstrated it is an effective therapy for short term pain relief 

 

Our research in CRPS is aimed to determine if rTMS is an effective strategy to improve pain and other symptoms of CRPS. Further, our work aims to determine the longevity of change and potential improvement caused by rTMS. In addition, a current focus in our lab is to better understand the complexities and neurobiological mechanism of CRPS to inform future therapy. Our work is focused on involving people with lived experience which is critical in ensuring that the research is accessible and accommodating in its design and its outcomes are relevant to the needs and requirements of the end user. To this end, we have partnered with Conquer CRPS, a Canadian CRPS support group network. Conquer CRPS also supports our research by donating funds raised during their annual Walk to Conquer CRPS to support participation in our research.

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Links to Conquer CRPS website and merchandise can be found below: