CRPS stands for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It is a chronic and often debilitating pain condition that typically affects one limb, most commonly an arm or a leg. CRPS is believed to result from an abnormal response of the nervous system to an injury, trauma, surgery, or even a minor event like a sprain.

There are two main types of CRPS:

1. CRPS Type 1 (formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or RSD): This type typically occurs after an injury or illness that did not directly damage the nerves in the affected area.

2. CRPS Type 2 (formerly known as Causalgia): This type occurs after a specific nerve injury.

The exact cause of CRPS is not fully understood, and there is no definitive cure. Treatment for CRPS is often multidisciplinary and may include:

• Pain management interventions: These can include medications to alleviate pain and inflammation, nerve blocks, and topical treatments.

• Physical therapy: Exercises and movement therapies can help improve joint flexibility and reduce muscle atrophy.

• Occupational therapy: This helps patients regain functionality in their daily activities.

• Psychology: Coping strategies and relaxation techniques can be beneficial for managing the emotional impact of chronic pain.

• Spinal cord stimulation: A device is implanted to deliver electrical signals to the spinal cord, which may help alleviate pain.

Since CRPS is a complex and poorly understood condition, treatment approaches can vary from person to person which is why treatments need to be tailored to the individual.

CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) entails chronic, often severe limb pain, commonly in an arm or leg. Symptoms may include some or all of these: intense burning pain, skin sensitivity, swelling, colour and temperature changes, muscle weakness, limited mobility, abnormal nail/hair growth, and altered sweating.

Research on the use of medical cannabis for treating Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is limited though a 2019 study found that it produced a safe pain relieving effect in patients with CRPS.

Yes, Medical Cannabis is legal in the UK. Since the law was passed in 2018, Medical Cannabis is allowed for the treatment of chronic pain conditions if other treatments have proven ineffective. Our consultants are pain specialists with experience working with Medical Cannabis.

There is ongoing global research and real-world data that shows the efficacy of Medical Cannabis. It may benefit chronic pain sufferers where other first-line medications have failed.

Medical cannabis works by acting on your endocannabinoid system (ECS). This exists in each of us and helps functions including pain control, sleep and mood.

For example, our own data has shown:

• 94% of patients reported an improvement in the severity of their pain

• 77% of patients reported improvement in mental health

• 88% of patients improved in at least component of quality of life

• 59% of patients using opioids reported they stopped all use

• 97% experienced no adverse effects

See our section on Medical Cannabis for more information and data.

References quoted: Leva Clinic has a number of proprietary data sources, including working with researchers from Imperial College London and participates in research with Drug Science.

Your consultant will make sure that you start on a concentration and dose/titration of Medical Cannabis that does not make you feel high.

They'll start you on a low dosing schedule, like you might have seen on other medications. For example "0.1ml twice daily, increase by 0.1ml every 3 days up to 0.5ml maximum".

From there you are in full control of how quickly you increase up to the maximum daily dose.

It's important you follow this schedule intuitively. If you were to feel any side-effects you can contact us immediately.

Any side effects of medical cannabis are more likely to occur when your treatment first starts.

In most cases the side effects are quite mild and wear off within a few days. It's important to document these and share any concerns with your consultant.

Here's a list of typical side effects:

Very common (affecting more than 1 in 10 people)

• Feeling dizzy or tired.

Common (affecting less than 1 in 10 people)

• Feeling depressed or confused.

• Feeling over excited or losing touch with reality.

• Problems with your memory or having trouble concentrating.

• Feeling sleepy or giddy.

• Blurred vision.

• Eating more or less than usual.

• Changed sense of taste or a dry mouth.

• Constipation or diarrhoea.

• Feeling or being sick.

• Lack of energy or feeling weak or generally unwell.

• Feeling abnormal or drunk.

• Loss of balance or falling over.

Uncommon (affecting less than 1 in 100 people)

• Seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations).

• Believing ideas that are not true.

• Feeling that other people are against you.

• Thoughts of suicide.

• Fainting.

• Changes in pulse rate, heart rate or blood pressure.

• Tummy pain

Medical cannabis may produce undesirable effects such as dizziness and drowsiness. These effects might impair your judgement or performance of skilled tasks. Note that this is the same as with any medication, including painkillers like opioids. Please refer to gov.uk's section on drugs and driving: the law.

If you're experiencing any significant effects such as dizziness or drowsiness you should not drive, operate machinery or engage in any hazardous activity.