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Category: Research and Development

A New Pain Killer on the Market: The Good and the Not So Good on Journavx

by Pradeep Chopra, MD for the RSDSA blog. Edited for clarity.

There is a lot of discussion about the newest medicine on the market.

Suzetrigine, marketed under the brand name Journavx, is a novel non-opioid analgesic recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain in adults. Developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, it represents the first new class of pain medication approved in over two decades. 

It works by blocking NaV1.8 channels. Pain is transmitted along nerves by the opening of NaV1.8 channels. Journavx blocks these sodium channels (NaV1.8) hence blocking pain transmission.

A few key points:

  • It affects only the nerves at the periphery (outside of the brain and spinal cord) like your arms, legs, etc. It does not cause addiction.
  • Unfortunately, Journavx is weaker than Vicodin in terms of controlling pain. It is more useful in acute post-operative pain and not in chronic pain. It failed treatment of low back pain.
  • Given its weak nature, it is unlikely to help CRPS.
  • CRPS is caused by central sensitization (aka pain triggered in the brain and spinal cord). Journavx does not act there. 

Clinical Efficacy

The efficacy of Journavx was demonstrated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled trials involving patients undergoing abdominoplasty and bunionectomy surgeries. In both studies, participants receiving Journavx reported a statistically significant reduction in pain compared to those receiving a placebo. While Journavx did not outperform the opioid combination of hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Vicodin), it provided effective pain relief without the associated risks of opioid use. 

Benefits

  • Non-Opioid Alternative: Journavx offers a new option for acute pain management, addressing the need for effective treatments without the addiction potential inherent to opioids. 
  • Targeted Mechanism: By selectively inhibiting the NaV1.8 sodium channel, Journavx specifically modulates pain signals in peripheral neurons, potentially leading to fewer central nervous system side effects. 

Risks and Adverse Effects

In clinical trials, the most commonly reported adverse reactions among participants treated with Journavx included:

  • Itching
  • Muscle spasms
  • Elevated blood levels of creatine phosphokinase
  • Rash

Journavx is contraindicated for use with strong CYP3A inhibitors, and patients are advised to avoid consuming grapefruit products during treatment due to potential drug interactions. 

Considerations

While Journavx has shown promise in managing acute pain, its efficacy in chronic pain conditions remains under investigation. A Phase 2 study focusing on lumbosacral radiculopathy (lower back pain) did not demonstrate a significant benefit over placebo, highlighting the challenges in treating chronic pain and the need for further research. 

In summary, Journavx is not very impressive. It has a weak pain killing strength and is effective only in acute surgical pain and not for chronic pain. As with any medication, it is essential to weigh its benefits against potential risks and to consider individual patient needs when determining the most appropriate pain management strategy.

References

1. Oliver B, Devitt C, Park G, Razak A, Liu SM, Bergese SD. Drugs in Development to Manage Acute Pain. Drugs. 2025 Jan;85(1):11-19. doi: 10.1007/s40265-024-02118-0. Epub 2024 Nov 19. PMID: 39560856.

2. Hang Kong AY, Tan HS, Habib AS. VX-548 in the treatment of acute pain. Pain Manag. 2024 Sep;14(9):477-486. doi: 10.1080/17581869.2024.2421749. Epub 2024 Nov 18. PMID: 39552600; PMCID: PMC11721852.

Copyright 2025 Pradeep Chopra. All rights reserved.

I Have Hope That I Can Be a Light in the Darkness

Written by Patty S. for the RSDSA blog.

This past April, I celebrated my 30th year of having CRPS and only having the diagnosis 28 years. Where does the time go when one is having so much fun?

In 1993, I was the middle car in a three-car accident. I hurt my neck and back. It took a long time to get better. Yet something strange happened to my right arm – it would swell up, turn red, and burn, then change to blue, feel cold, and still burn. I saw 20 doctors over two years, and nobody could figure it out. They finally said I might have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), now called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare illness with no cure. They told me to get used to the pain, because I would have to live with it forever.

I went to a psychologist for psychological testing. He knew about CRPS and suggested I see Dr. Kirkpatrick in Tampa. By the time I saw Dr. Kirkpatrick, my right arm was so sensitive I couldn’t touch it, and each finger was almost three inches wide. Dr. Kirkpatrick had a plan to help me get better. He gave me 50 articles to read about CRPS.

The doctor’s treatment plan started with six blocks on my ganglionic nerves twice a week. It worked, and I got a confirmed diagnosis of CRPS with some hope. I had many more rounds of blocks, and I even had surgery to remove part of my sympathetic nerves. I thought I was cured and went back to work part-time. But every six months, I had to get more blocks because the pain came back.

In the following five years, I had two more car accidents, and the CRPS spread to my left foot, hip, face, head, and whole left arm. I had almost 100 blocks in a year, plus many other treatments like hypnosis, TENS unit therapy, water therapy, physical thearpy, and more. I even tried something called the “burnout method” that hurt so bad it made me pass out, but it didn’t work.

In 2008, my right arm and left leg got much colder than the other side. More blocks and ketamine were added, and I learned how to do biofeedback. But my regular doctor couldn’t help anymore, and in 2010, new doctors said I needed on disability. That’s when I lost hope, lost friends, and couldn’t go to the beach. I had ketamine infusions, more blocks, and “The Suicide Disease” took over. I lost hope yet had to be the caregiver of the family.

By September 2022, I had reached my end. I felt isolated. Stiffness and swelling made me fall and suicide was all I thought about. I lost all hope. I hadn’t smiled or laughed for years.

Then I was asked to try out a program called Override, in March 2023. One of the pain coaches, Brenda, called me and told me about Override’s virtual Comprehensive Pain Program that might help. It involved seeing a team of pain specialists including a pain physician, psychologist, physical therapist and health coach that all actually worked together on the same team. They would also teach me about pain science and how to take control of my pain. And I could participate from home since the treatment was all virtual. 

I was very skeptical and thought it wouldn’t work, but I decided to give it a try and postpone suicide for six months.

I listened, practiced, and learned a lot about managing pain with Override’s team. Three months into it, I still had bad pain days, but within 40 minutes without any pain medication, I could reduce my pain from a 10 to a 5 using a technique Override taught me called deep breathing and visualization. That was faster than a pill would work! I was even able to sleep more than 25 hours a week.

Four months into Override’s program, I could stop any suicidal thoughts and started having a little hope. After 30 years of pain, I learned to accept it. I had a little control, felt calmer, and could smile. In five months, I could smile more, manage pain better, and my self-esteem went up. I could laugh without it hurting, and I could reduce pain in 27 minutes. I had hope and could achieve my goals.

Since completing my program at Override after nine months of treatment, I have peace and joy five out of seven days a week. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty unbelievable compared to where I was.

I recently ate out at a restaurant, went to church and sat through services, and attended a prayer group. I haven’t done these things in 18 months. Now that I’m getting out, I can talk to someone other than my dog, and he’s grateful!

Just months ago, I didn’t think I had any purpose in life except to suffer. Now, I’m planning to volunteer with an organization starting March 2024. I have hope that I can be a light in the darkness, and I know I have a future thanks to Override. I am getting better at the tools, yet would still like a cure.

Learn more about Override via their website and our June 2023 livestream.

Please consider supporting RSDSA with a monthly gift.

FDA Approves Full Body MRI for Abbott Proclaim DRG Neurostimulation Device for CRPS Lower Limb Treatment

Abbott says four out of five people who are implanted with its Proclaim DRG device experience significant pain relief and improved quality of life.

The new FDA approval now allows patients to receive MRI scans while implanted with the device, eliminating the need to sacrifice MRI imaging to access this type of pain relief.

By James Doulgeris, Chairman, RSDSA Advisory Committee

The Proclaim DRG provides targeted relief for people with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Types I and II of the lower limbs. It stimulates the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) clusters of nerve cells found along the spine providing “significant pain relief” in four out of five patients. 

This implant, however, has come at a cost because patients with the implant were not able to get MRI imaging anywhere in the body before this approval except in specialized facilities. Now they can at any imaging center.

If you have this device implanted, or are considering having one implanted, you will find more information in Abbott’s press release or by consulting with your surgeon.

Updates are provided as a service of your RSDSA Advocacy Committee

Contact us at [email protected] 

Interested in volunteering as a member of the Advocacy Committee? Its as simple as emailing us at [email protected] to learn more. Or you can support us with a monthly gift. Just click here!

RSDSA receives no governmental support. We are totally reliant on donations from the CRPS community and from our fundraising events. Thank you for your kind consideration.  

Buying Prescription Drugs from Canada is Now Legal in Florida

Written by James Doulgeris, Chairman, RSDSA Advocacy Committee

Editors Note: As of February 2025, this program has not progressed.

It is now legal to purchase prescription medications from Canada, which are as much as forty percent less expensive than those available in the U.S., in Florida directly from your local drug store and online. They are FDA approved and safe to use, however, it will take time for the system to absorb this monumental change in distribution and regulatory approval systems.

The approval of Canadian drugs in Florida is expected to reduce prescription drug costs for residents while maintaining safety standards through FDA oversight. This could potentially serve as a model for other states seeking to address the high cost of prescription medications.

Here is how this new approval will affect Florida residents and how the system will change over time:

Cost Impact

Lower Prescription Drug Costs: The approval allows Florida to import inexpensive prescription drugs from Canada, where medication prices are typically lower than in the United States. This is expected to result in cost savings for consumers in Florida, but not for everyone and not directly.

  • Commercial Insurance – Any savings to be passed on to consumers as PBM’s (Pharmacy Benefits Managers) assess price advantages of Canadian versus U.S. sourced drugs, and these are done on a national basis. In any event, cost savings will be indirect in the form of lower co-pays or insurance premiums. This law pertains only to Florida and it will take time to sort things out. 
  • Cash Customers – It is uncertain how consumers will be able to price shop between country of origin. It will be largely up to consumers to price shop between retailers, who may or may not advertise cost savings, but likely will to bring traffic to their stores. It is unlikely price wars will erupt, though.
  • Medicare and Medicaid – These are national programs that can now negotiate with drug manufacturers, and these will be largely unaffected for now. However, there may be isolated cases where the cash price may be lower than co-pays in the “donut hole” in Medicare Part D, which pays for prescription medications. Careful shoppers should keep an eye out for organizations like AARP and Consumer Reports, which will likely track and report these savings opportunities.

Increased Competition: The availability of Canadian drugs can introduce more competition into the pharmaceutical market, potentially leading to reduced prices for a wider range of medications in Florida and potentially other states, but only for cash customers meaning those without healthcare pharmacy insurance benefits.

Safety Impact

  • FDA Approval: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval ensures that the imported Canadian drugs meet certain safety and quality standards. Therefore, consumers can have confidence that these medications have undergone regulatory scrutiny for safety.
  • Prescription Authentication: The FDA’s involvement includes verifying the authenticity and legitimacy of the imported drugs to prevent counterfeit or unsafe medications from entering the market. This, however, will get complicated with pop-up retailers and online sellers.

Online Purchases

While the approval of Canadian drug imports in Florida allows for the importation of medications from Canada, Floridians cannot purchase Canadian drugs online without restrictions. The implementation of the program and the specifics of how these drugs can be obtained, while regulations and processes are in place, will be a moving target with unscrupulous sellers.

To purchase Canadian drugs in Florida, Florida residents should follow these steps:

  • Consult a Healthcare Provider: Before seeking to purchase medications from Canada, you must consult a healthcare provider. They can assess your medical needs, discuss treatment options, and provide prescriptions if necessary. A prescription is required to purchase prescription medications.
  • Verify Legitimate Online Pharmacies: Research and choose a legitimate online pharmacy based in Canada. Verify the pharmacy’s credentials, including its licensing and reputation by seeking a third-party validation using Google or a similar search engine.
  • Prescription Requirement: ALL legitimate online pharmacies require a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider to dispense medications. 
  • Beware of Scams: Exercise caution when dealing with online pharmacies. There are fraudulent websites selling counterfeit or unsafe medications. Stick to reputable sources and avoid suspicious offers. If it seems to be too good to be true, it is.

While the FDA approval allows for the importation of Canadian drugs into Florida, the process of purchasing them online should be must cautiously, following the proper legal and medical procedures. Always prioritize safety and verify the legitimacy of online pharmacies to ensure the quality and safety of the medications you purchase.

Contact us at [email protected] 

Please consider supporting RSDSA with a monthly gift 

RSDSA receives no governmental support (it is time to change that!). We are totally reliant on donations from the CRPS community and from our fundraising events. Thank you for your kind consideration.  https://rsds.org/donate/

For more information or with questions, contact Jim directly at [email protected]

Centers For Disease Control And Prevention CDC Guidelines For Long Term Opiate Use

Prepared for RSDSA by James Doulgeris – for more information or with questions, contact him directly at [email protected]

The restrictive guidelines for opiate prescribing of the past have been relaxed substantially, leaving decision making to physicians and their patients. Here are the details:

The new guidelines for prescribing opioids, as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have evolved to address the opioid crisis while ensuring appropriate pain management. These guidelines were updated in 2022 and focus on several key areas:

  • Determining the Need for Opioids: Healthcare providers should carefully evaluate the necessity of opioids for pain management. Non-opioid alternatives should be considered first, especially for conditions like chronic pain [2].
  • Patient Assessment: Before prescribing opioids, healthcare professionals should assess the patient’s medical history, risk factors for addiction, and pain intensity. They should discuss the risks and benefits with the patient and establish treatment goals [1].
  • Prescribing Opioids Responsibly: When opioids are deemed necessary, providers should start with the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration, particularly for acute pain. For chronic pain, they should use a gradual titration approach and regularly reassess the patient’s progress.
  • Monitoring and Follow-Up: Ongoing monitoring is essential, with regular follow-ups to evaluate the patient’s response to opioids, their adherence, and any signs of misuse or addiction. Adjustments to the treatment plan should be made as needed [1].
  • Education and Informed Consent: Healthcare providers should educate patients about the potential risks and benefits of opioid therapy and obtain informed consent. They should discuss the safe use, storage, and disposal of opioids [1].
  • Flexibility: The guidelines emphasize flexibility, recognizing that each patient’s situation is unique. The approach to opioid prescribing should be tailored to individual needs and circumstances [4].

It’s important to note that these guidelines aim to strike a balance between providing pain relief for those who need it while mitigating the risks of opioid misuse and addiction, contributing to efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

Sources:

Overall, while CDC guidelines are more liberal, many state guidelines have failed to be updated to reflect more modern medical viewpoints. Some states such as Colorado are so restrictive that they have only begun to update their ban on opiates when confronted with hard evidence of a direct link to the ban and suicide rates.

Please consider supporting RSDSA with a monthly gift 

RSDSA receives no governmental support. We are totally reliant on donations from the CRPS community and from our fundraising events. Thank you for your kind consideration.

RSDSA’s Plan to Bring Ketamine on Label

Written by James Doulgeris

There is real science and overwhelming evidence to support that ketamine is THE drug to treat CRPS and its two primary comorbidities – PTSD and treatment resistant depression. Presently, ketamine is not covered by any insurance because it is “off-label,” because it has not performed a Clinical Study Proving that it is safe to use over time.


Ketamine use in treating CRPS for over two decades with tens of thousands of patients provides a strong track record of safety and effectiveness. So, why hasn’t the FDA approved it for CRPS/RSD? I have spoken with several FDA officials, and they give two primary reasons:

1. There is no standard of care meaning physicians using ketamine on patients with chronic pain, depression and PTSD have not agreed on a specific treatment protocol including dosages. The lack of self-regulation is problematic for them; and,

2. The FDA requires a study showing that long-term use of ketamine is safe under a standard therapeutic protocol and dosage range. This means that a years-long double-blind study called a PMA, or Pre-Market Assessment, is required to prove that it is safe and effective to use.

Up until now, the money has not existed to perform the FDA study because CRPS is an orphan disease. This means that RSDSA and others are in a poor position to raise the millions of dollars required to mount such a long-term study. Furthermore, the study will take years and an investment into the seven figures to perform. These studies are normally done by a drug company, however, since ketamine has been on the market for over 60 years, is generic and relatively cheap, and it is already being used off-label, there is no incentive for drug companies to do so.

Without FDA approval, insurers do not cover ketamine therapy or infusions meaning, in many cases, profiteering is rampant. Some clinics charge as much as $1,500 USD or more per day for ketamine infusions while others accept insurance fees for infusion services because ketamine is relatively inexpensive. The rest are in-between. Our community is being hurt financially, physically, and emotionally. The cost to a facility for ketamine per day for an infusion is about $40.

Doing the math, anything over $250 to $300 or equivalent per day for a four-hour ketamine infusion is predatory pricing.

Sublingual ketamine tablets, nasal sprays, capsules and creams, standard daily therapy that can significantly reduce the amount of opiates required to achieve equivalent pain relief, can cost over $20 USD per day, or over $7,000 per year making one of the most effective, and opiate sparing, drugs unaffordable for most CRPS patients.

Ketamine nasal sprays, sublingual tablets, extended-release capsules, and topical creams are only available through compounding pharmacies. Quality varies widely as does potency even month to month from the same pharmacy. A recent report on compounding pharmacies was not encouraging, and that is being generous.

The calvary, literally, is coming to the rescue. The Veteran’s Administration, which is performing a study on the long-term effects of ketamine infusions and other means of ketamine administration, has taken the lead. It is within their regulatory powers, and that provides a mutual opportunity for RSDSA to provide a much broader participant cohort to the study, speeding it up by several orders of magnitude. That process is already underway.

Our plan is to apply for an investigational waiver from CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid), which regulates and pays for the Medicare and Medicaid programs covering a suspected majority of our CRPS patients. This waiver would allow Medicare and Medicaid to pay for ketamine as a benefit if used in conjunction with the VA study.

We will keep you advised on the progress of this program, which I have been asked to take the lead on.

We will also be working on developing relationships with existing ketamine infusion centers and reputable compounding pharmacies willing to abide by the VA protocols and will provide that list and instructions as to how to apply to participate in the study.

In the meantime, ketamine infusions are an OUTPATIENT procedure. Again, they should not cost more than $250 to $300 per day and most insurers cover the cost of infusions. Now that you are armed with the facts, get out there and take care of yourself in the short term if you and your physician agree that ketamine infusions are right for you. We are working hard on the rest.

RSDSA is a resource. If you still have a question, you are welcome to ask me by emailing me at [email protected].

Join Abbott On Neurostimulation for Foot Pain Webinars Through March 2024

Abbott is holding a free national patient education event webinar series through March 26, 2024 at 7p Eastern.

The webinars will focus on how Abbott’s neurostimluation therapy offers an FDA-approved, medication-free, long-term treatment option for chronic pain.

Feel free to join the free session that is most convenient for you. Each session will provide the same information.

Abbott is a proud sponsor of RSDSA.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Practical Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines, 5th Edition 

Originally published on June 10, 2022

This is the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS; also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy [RSD], causalgia). These guidelines have been sponsored by the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association and are written by expert practitioners in each discipline that is traditionally utilized in the treatment of CRPS [1]. There is a fairly recent, excellent, rigorous systematic review of the treatment literature in CRPS [2] which confirmed there is only modest high-quality research in the area. Nonetheless, in this “evidence vacuum” we still have a responsibility to treat. Certainly, we must develop better evidence, but our patients cannot wait for that. Thus, although the authors of these practical guidelines all utilized a systematic approach to reviewing the available and relevant literature, they have also included less rigorous, preliminary research reports, often supplemented by extensive empirical experience. The authors perforce must also extrapolate from “related conditions” (e.g., neuropathy [3]). The research quality, clinical relevance and “state of the art” of diagnostic criteria or treatment modalities are discussed, sometimes in considerable detail. Where there have been no discernable updates in areas since the 4th edition, text from that has been kept, sometimes verbatim.

These guidelines are intended to serve as an aid to the informed practitioner. They are not intended to replace or supplant the clinician’s best judgment, experience, training and/or a careful consideration of the clinical context. Although every reasonable attempt has been made to minimize the bias of the authors, it must be recalled that, in context, all the experts are to a degree biased to “their” therapeutic approach.

Detailed sections are provided as a guide and informational source not only to the “expert” in CRPS therapy but also the primary practitioner who is interested. Levels of evidence are mentioned when appropriate (Table 1), so that the practitioner can better assess the modality under discussion and, if desired, to personally review the citations in detail. In the humanitarian spirit of making the most of all current thinking in the area, balanced by a careful case by case analysis of the risk/cost versus benefit analysis, we offer these “practical” guidelines.

View the full article here.

Pain Reduction by Inducing Sensory – Motor Adaptation: CRPS PRISMA Trial

Pain Reduction by Inducing Sensory-Motor Adaptation: CRPS PRISMA trialIn research funded by the RSDSA, scientists at the University of Bath in England are investigating a new treatment for CRPS that targets perception of and attention to the affected limb and surrounding space.

People with CRPS often report that the size and shape of their affected limb feels different to its true size or shape. People with CRPS also show changes in their attention to the affected limb and surrounding space. These changes to body perception and attention are reminiscent of symptoms that can arise after damage to certain parts of the brain. It has been suggested that pain and other symptoms of CRPS might arise as a result of errors in brain signaling about the shape and location of the affected limb. If this is the case, then it could be possible to treat CRPS using therapies that restore normal body perception and attention.

Dr. Janet Bultitude, a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the Centre for Pain Research and Department of Psychology at the University of Bath, is leading a team of researchers to investigate a new type of treatment for CRPS of the upper limb, called sensory-motor adaptation. Sensory-motor adaptation has been used for almost two decades to treat problems with perception and attention that occur following brain damage. The treatment takes only five minutes twice a day, and involves making simple movements while wearing goggles that distort the vision. Preliminary research at three independent research centres has shown that sensory-motor adaptation reduced pain and other CRPS symptoms in a total of thirteen patients with CRPS of the upper limb. Although these results are highly promising, since these studies did not compared sensory-motor adaptation to control treatment conditions it is possible that the benefits that were observed were due to some factor other than the treatment of interest. Dr. Bultitude and her team are taking the next step in investigating the potential of sensory-motor adaptation as a CRPS rehabilitation tool by conducting a double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial of the treatment method.

They will recruit up to 52 people with CRPS of one upper limb who live in the United Kingdom. Participants will undergo two weeks of either real or control sensory-motor adaptation, which they will perform in their own home. Comparing the effects of real sensory-motor adaptation to a similar control treatment will be critical for learning whether sensory-motor adaptation has true benefits for CRPS patients. This research has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients with CRPS by offering a new treatment, and by discovering more about the relationships between body perception, attention, and physical CRPS symptoms.

To find out more about the study and to learn about eligibility, interested persons can contact Dr Janet Bultitude ([email protected]) or Ms Monika Halicka ([email protected]).

DRG Stimulation: The Breakthrough CRPS Treatment Has Finally Arrived in the United States

Corey W. Hunter, MD who wrote about DRG stimulation for CRPS By Corey W. Hunter, MD for the RSDSA blog.

Most patients with CRPS can attest to the fact that many of the existing treatments for it are extremely limited.  Recently, Ketamine moved into the spotlight and gave physicians and patients, alike, a great deal of hope that we were getting closer to an answer.  Sadly, the data has been mediocre and insurance coverage remains a problem.  Fortunately, there has been a substantial breakthrough in the understanding of CRPS and how to better treat it.

DRG Stimulation explained through an image. How could DRG stimulation impact CRPS RSD Pain.
Courtesy of St. Jude Medical

The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is a small bundle of neurons located just outside the spinal cord.  Previously, the DRG was believed to be a passive structure with no real involvement in creating or maintaining neuropathic pain.  New evidence, however, suggested the DRG is actually responsible for the hyperexcitability of the central nervous system that leads to many of the symptoms associated with CRPS (i.e. allodynia and central sensitization).  Combined with the fact that the DRG is so easily accessible, it made the perfect target for treatment.

Researchers found that by sending small electrical signals to the DRG, pain from things like CRPS could be substantially reduced: thus the birth of DRG Stimulation.  This is actually a variation of a treatment already available called spinal cord stimulation with one major difference: the lead(s) are placed directly over the DRG(s) directing the stimulation solely to the neurons thought to be creating and perpetuating the pain involved in CRPS.

It has been available in other parts of the world for some time now and many of the practitioners already using it have been raving about its unbelievable track record.  Dr. Liong Liem of the Netherlands has arguable more experience with DRG Stimulation than anyone else in the world.  He published some of the first data on it in 2013 where he showed an impressive 56% overall reduction in pain at one-year – this included several types of pain, CRPS being the second most common diagnosis in that particular publication.

Most recently, the results from the U.S. clinical trial called the ACCURATE Study were publicly reported.  The results broke all expectations – at one-year, 74.2% of patients reported greater than 50% pain relief with 1/3 of the total patients treated with DRG Stimulation reporting a staggering 80% or more reduction in pain.  The most common diagnosis in this study was CRPS.

Axium device for DRG stimulation. How can this change the future of CRPS RSD.
Courtesy of St. Jude Medical

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) just granted approval to DRG Stimulation for use within the U.S. as of February 2016 for the treatment of CRPS.  Currently, the only device capable of DRG Stimulation is called the Axium™ which is available exclusively through St. Jude Medical™. There are a handful of centers across the nation that will be performing this cutting-edge treatment starting April 2016.

Such a treatment could change everything we know about CRPS and how to manage it.  Hopefully, this will be the large step forward so many sufferers have been waiting a lifetime for.