COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME

That this House applauds the work of charities of sufferers of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), Burning Nights CRPS Support and CRPS UK; welcomes the 2018 updated clinical guidelines for CRPS, one of the most painful of all known conditions at 42 out of 50 on the McGill pain scale; expresses concern that although an estimated 15,000 people per year develop CRPS, many fail to receive prompt and adequate treatment through the NHS because of a lack of knowledge and appreciation of the condition and that sufferers frequently have to wait for two years or more to access a pain clinic, in spite of early treatment being crucial to success in combatting this excruciating condition; notes that sufferers cannot routinely access mental health support to assist with psychological trauma of diagnosis; further notes that the Government keeps no record of diagnoses, making it difficult to build an effective case for further research; notes that the condition can affect anyone, particularly following mild trauma and injury or minor surgery; recognises that there are no known cures at the present time but that there are some effective treatments; and calls on the Government to develop and adopt a protocol for diagnosis in an emergency setting, to increase the capacity of pain clinics and access to mental health support for sufferers, including a 24 hour support line as the pain is often particularly excruciating at night, to build evidence of diagnoses to encourage much needed and overdue research into this chronic neurological disease, and to ensure greater dissemination of information on the condition and to raise awareness among general practitioners and consultants to reduce the impact and suffering caused by this excruciating condition.