Table 1 The effect of vitamin C on complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and other orthopedic pain

Placebo controlled RCT

 Wrist fractures [43]^a

i. Placebo (N = 167)

i. 20–42% CRPS (at 6 weeks), 5–16% CRPS (at 1 year)

ii. 500 mg/day oral vitamin C (N = 169) for 50 days

ii. 40–42% CRPS (at 6 weeks), 6–16% CRPS (at 1 year)

 Wrist fractures [44]^a

i. Placebo (N = 99)

i. 10% CRPS

ii. 200 mg/day oral vitamin C (N = 96)

ii. 4% CRPS

iii. 500 mg/day oral vitamin C (N = 144)

iii. 2% CRPS*

iv. 1.5 g/day oral vitamin C (N = 118) for 50 days

iv. 2% CRPS*

 Wrist fractures [45]^a

i. Placebo (N = 63)

i. 22% CRPS

ii. 500 mg/day oral vitamin C (N = 52) for 50 days

ii. 7% CRPS* (at 1 year follow up)

 Hip/knee osteoarthritis [55]

Placebo or 1 g/day oral vitamin C (N = 133)

Cross-over design, 14 days with 7 day washout

5% ↓ pain (VAS)*

Controlled prospective

 Foot and ankle surgery [46]^a

i. Control (N = 235)

i. 10% CRPS

ii. 1 g/day oral vitamin C (N = 185) for 45 days

ii. 2% CRPS*

 Wrist fracture surgery [47]^a

i. Control (N = 100)

i. 10% CRPS

ii. 1 g/day oral vitamin C (N = 95) for 45 days

ii. 2% CRPS* (at 90 day follow up)

 Paget’s disease of bone [59]

i. Calcitonin (N = 13)

i. Pain relief in 85%, marked ↓ pain in 31%

ii. Calcitonin + 3 g/day vitamin C (N = 11) for 2 weeks

ii. Pain relief in 73%, marked ↓ pain in 45%

Uncontrolled prospective

 Arthritic joint replacement surgery [54]^a

500 mg/day oral vitamin C (N = 34) for 50 days

0% CRPS cases

 Paget’s disease of bone [58]

3 g/day oral vitamin C (N = 16) for 2 weeks

↓ Pain in 50%, no pain in 20% (within 5-7 days)

Case report

 Rheumatoid arthritis [56]

50 g IV vitamin C twice/week for 4 weeks

Before: 100% pain (QLQ)

After: 0% pain