Help My Hurt

Can children get CRPS?

by Marijke Durning, RN on June 25th, 2008

Can children get complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), formerly called reflex dystrophy syndrome (RSD)? They can. In fact, thousands of children of all ages across North America, have the disease.

As difficult as it is to treat adults with chronic pain CRPS, it’s much harder to treat children. It’s easy to forget that children do live with chronic pain. What often happens is a child has a “good” period when he or she is very active, but then it’s hard for people to understand how the child can be in so much pain just before or just after. Perhaps leading the adults around them to not take the children’ complaints very seriously.

As well, pain medications are tested on adults and there are few truly understood pain relievers for children. So, pain management takes on a whole new meaning.

The Reflex Dystrophy Syndrome Association has this pamphlet that helps people learn about CRPS in children and how you can help: Pediatric CRPS Tri-Fold Brochure.

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POSTED IN: Children, Chronic Pain