DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and CRPS type 1
What 5 graded rows on dmso (dimethyl sulfoxide) agree on for CRPS type 1, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and CRPS type 1
5 rows · 269 peopleMostly an improvement: 4 of 5 rows, and most of the people. 1 had mixed results.
- CGrade C× 5
- Rows
- 5
- Trials
- 5
- People
- 269
What the rows share
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a randomized trial of 146 people (2003) and reported mixed results.
The rows run from 26 to 146 people, published from 1993 to 2012: 5 single studies.
The rows
4 improved · 1 mixed- CGrade CPain in reflex sympathetic dystrophy (open study) · Improved
Open-label trial · n 37 · 1993 · Patients with acute signs of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (Netherlands)
Applied to the affected limb, with physiotherapy · Mean 3.4 months
Pain (VAS 0 to 10) fell from 5.3 to 0.9 (p < 0.01). Twelve patients noticed a sulfurous smell on the breath; the skin became mildly dry and scaly.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 8455741 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CCRPS type 1 signs and pain (acute reflex sympathetic dystrophy) · Improved
RCT · n 31 · 1996 · Adults with acute reflex sympathetic dystrophy (CRPS type 1) after an accident (Netherlands); 32 randomized, 1 withdrawn for surgery
Applied to the affected limb, with physiotherapy · 2 months
Both groups improved on the RSD score and pain (VAS), but the RSD score improved significantly more with DMSO cream (P < 0.01).
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 8721469 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CPain and limb function in CRPS type 1 (hospital series) · Improved
Observational · n 29 · 2012 · Patients with CRPS type 1 of less than 1 year at a traumatology hospital (Valencia, Spain); retrospective
Topical, alongside oral drugs and interventional techniques · Up to 1 year of follow-up
Pain (VAS) fell by 3.09 points overall, quality-of-life (Likert) rose 1.36 points, and range of motion and strength improved; side effects were scarce.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 22266201 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CEarly CRPS of the hand: DMSO vs guanethidine nerve blocks · Improved
RCT · n 26 · 1994 · Patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the hand, treatment started within 3 months of diagnosis (Netherlands)
DMSO cream (dose not given in the abstract) · 9 weeks
After 9 weeks there was a better result in the DMSO group (13 patients) than the Ismelin group (13 patients).
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 8172505 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CCRPS type 1 impairment: DMSO cream vs N-acetylcysteine · Mixed
RCT · n 146 · 2003 · Outpatients with CRPS type 1 at two Dutch university hospitals
DMSO cream five times daily to the affected limb; NAC three times daily · 17 weeks (follow-up to 52 weeks)
No overall difference between DMSO and NAC in impairment or general health at 17 and 52 weeks. Lower-limb function subscores favoured DMSO; DMSO did better in warm CRPS and NAC in cold CRPS.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 12670672 (opens PubMed)