INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CONSORTIUM FOR COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME

Description

Significant strides in CRPS research has occurred during the last two decade. However, solid information and RCTs concerning treatment or definitive information about mechanisms and treatment responsve phenotypes is lacking. There are many explanations and the International Research Consortium for CRPS (IRC) will address this need.

CRPS is a relatively rare condition. Thus, with very few exceptions, trials of treatment for CRPS-I have generally been small N, single-site pilot studies. Federal agencies that approve treatments (e.g. FDA in the US) and insurance payers do not consider preliminary, pilot, or case series type evidence. Definitive trials are an immediate need.

Previous research efforts in CRPS suffer from a lack of funding with one notable exception of TREND. National funding levels for basic and clinical research are at historic lows internationally and may remain so for a long time.

What is needed is large, multi-site studies with appropriate funding levels. The formation of an International Research Consortium for CRPS (IRC) will accomplish this by 'pooling' our resources for rapid and conclusive studies.