How is CRPS Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of CRPS in the early stage can be very difficult when the symptoms are mild or few. CRPS is usually diagnosed by observing the following symptoms:

The type 1 CRPS can be diagnosed by physical exam and history with no further tests. There are a lot of different diagnostic criteria which have undergone validity tests. These include the 1993 IASP criteria, Veldman's criteria and Bruehl’s criteria. One criterion is not recommended over other as there is no compelling reason.

CRPS is mainly treated by observing the signs and symptoms of the disease. But since a lot of conditions have similar symptoms, it is very difficult for the doctor to make any decision at the early stage, where the symptoms are still few and mild. For example, a small nerve entrapment can cause severe pain showing the resemblance of CRPS. The diagnosis becomes more complicated, as some people improve gradually without the need for any treatment. There are no specific tests for CRPS diagnosis, but some tests will cancel the probability of other conditions.