title: Complex regional pain syndrome type I after myocardial infarction treated with spinal cord stimulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A rare case of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type I after myocardial infarction (MI) and significant comorbid illness with few treatment options for pain control was successfully managed with the placement of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 44-year-old man presented with left upper extremity burning pain after MI. His past medical history included insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, oxygen-dependent idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and recent coronary revascularization surgery. His pain was presumed to be related to his MI and a clinical diagnosis of CRPS type I (or reflex sympathetic dystrophy) was made. Facing limited medical and less invasive options for his pain relief, he underwent a spinal cord stimulation trial with excellent response. He had more than 70% pain relief from the spinal cord stimulation at the last follow-up, 2 years later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CRPS type I after MI can be difficult to treat because of other comorbid illnesses. SCS can be a safe and effective mode of therapy for patients facing limited treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts General Hospital Pain Center, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. sahmed@partners.org
authors.forename: Shihab U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*