I came across this thread while trying to do some research and I wanted to give some personal experience from a patient's perspective. The first time I realized that something was wrong after I had undergone a 3rd surgery to repair my wrist was in Physical Therapy. Unfortunately, although I had been in PT for a few years, a new doctor for that surgery meant a new PT group, so they didn't see a change in my behavior. It was incredibly difficult to explain this new type of burning pain, and I was the first patient with CRPS my therapist had ever had. At first I even thought it was the Therapist I was with, and indeed I was able to switch to one that treated me with kid gloves. But, if a patient becomes hysterical from simply being touched please take it seriously. The signs such as hair and skin changes can happen right away, but at times they might take a while (even years) to develop, or only present themselves only during a portion of the syndrome. Another warning is an over reaction to ice. Ice is VERY harmful to CRPS patients, and a patient's change in reaction to cold or heat should be examined. Ultimately a Therapist who was well versed with CRPS was the missing link to my starting a meaningful therapy program.