RSD / CRPS Treatment Options
Updated 2026: I originally shared this presentation in 2014 after listening to Dr. Pradeep Chopra discuss RSD/CRPS treatment options and the different approaches being used to manage the condition. Although the presentation is older, many of the treatment options he discusses are still part of the conversation surrounding CRPS today.
Treatment for RSD/CRPS is highly individual. Many times, what helps one person may not help another. I am keeping this presentation available to you because it still provides helpful information about the complexity of CRPS and the different approaches that are still used today.
Dr. Chopra’s Information
Dr. Pradeep Chopra’s treatment update for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. He discusses what it is, what occurs within the body, what glial cells are, and how our nervous system works. He also discusses medications, treatments, and physical therapy. It is extremely informative, and I am appreciative of all the work Dr. Chopra does for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
What I found interesting is his explanation of the hypersensitization of the nervous system and what glial cells actually are. He offered an explanation of the effects opiates have on glial cells and opiates’ interaction with the nervous system.
His discussion of nervous system hypersensitization is also one reason I believe learning how to support the nervous system is important when living with chronic pain. If you need help with this, my 8-Week Nervous System Reset teaches practical ways to support your nervous system, manage stress, and better manage pain.
Dr. Chopra was initially trained as an anesthesiologist and is very experienced with ketamine, having used it in anesthesia. He expressed the opinion that Ketamine is very safe and a reasonable treatment option if needed. He also mentioned positive results for some of his patients using a low-dose Naltrexone treatment. Naltrexone is an inexpensive drug that has been around a long time. Naltrexone is currently being used off-label as an experimental treatment to reduce chronic nerve pain.
He also discussed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and its rise and prevalence in children. I felt he seemed hopeful in its treatment for children. Another interesting point was thyroid function and how it relates to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
He stressed the importance of physical therapy (exercise) and that some may benefit from a service dog. Dr Chopra’s Treatment Update and Knowledge of RSD are very thorough, and he also shares the importance of understanding it.
RSD / CRPS Treatment is Individual
Treating RSD/CRPS comes with many challenges because there isn’t one single treatment that works for everyone. Your treatment depends on the severity of pain, how long you have been dealing with it, and how you will respond to the treatment. For me, I was willing to try a variety of treatments that I felt comfortable with.
The Mayo Clinic’s overview of CRPS treatment options also explains that a combination of different treatments tailored to the individual is often necessary.
Keep your options for treatment open and focus on a multi-disciplinary approach that includes lifestyle, physical therapy, medications, psychological support, and focuses on the whole you.
This is why I believe we should learn as much as we can, ask questions, and work with our doctors and healthcare professionals who understand the complexity of RSD / CRPS.
Treating the Whole Person by Dr. Chopra
Another presentation from Dr. Chopra that I found valuable focuses on treating the whole person. This approach resonated with me because living with chronic pain affects much more than the area of the body where we experience the pain. Supporting our physical, emotional, and overall well-being is an important part, which is something I share more about in Natural Solutions for Chronic Pain – A Whole Body Approach.