CRPS and Vitamin C

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) was formerly called reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). It is an uncommon form of chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg. CRPS usually develops after an injury, surgery, stroke or heart attack. The pain is severe and out of proportion to the severity of the injury. Its cause is unknown, but it is generally associated with previous fracture or other injury. Symptoms last well beyond a normal recovery phase and are usually severe and debilitating. The patient is suffers with severe, persistent aching pain, swelling and coldness in the affected limb. According to research published in the Journal of Family Practice, (2000; 49:268-269) taking vitamin C daily after an injury can help prevent development of CRPS. People who did not take vitamin C were over three times more likely to develop RSD than those who took over 500 milligrams of vitamin C each day for two months after the initial injury event.