Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Service detail

Complex regional pain syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a condition which isn’t well understood and is often difficult to diagnose. Its main feature is persistent pain in an arm or leg, usually after trauma. It is often associated with changes in temperature, swelling and sensitivity.

Dr Andreas Goebel, a Consultant and Reader in Pain Medicine, runs a dedicated service for patients with CRPS at The Walton Centre. This specialist service sees patients from across the UK, including tertiary referrals. 

CRPS clinics

One or two consultant-led clinics per month are dedicated to seeing new and follow-up patients with CRPS. There is also a specialist physiotherapy clinic, run by a team of senior professionals, who deliver state-of-the-art treatments. We aim to offer new appointments within three to six weeks and can respond swiftly to patient requests for follow-up appointments. 

CRPS can be a long-term condition and we have developed our service to reflect this. A telephone advice line for patients with pressing queries is available.

Special information and discussion days for patients with CRPS who have in the past been seen at The Walton Centre take place every 12-18 months and have been well received. We also convene occasional CRPS patient involvement groups to discuss research plans.

The team at The Walton Centre and The University of Liverpool is at the forefront of research into this condition worldwide. Patients are regularly invited to consider participation in this research. Our treatments are informed by the latest available evidence and the team initiated a UK Guideline Group, which has developed the first ever UK guidance for health professionals on how to manage CRPS.