My partner has CRPS that started seemingly without an injury (at least one significant enough to notice). She saw 3 GPs at her local surgery who were not convinced that her pain was genuine or at the level she was reporting and refused to refer her to anyone.

However, i was due to see a rheumatologist a couple months later and took her along. That consultant recognised her symptoms quickly, and was very keen that the situation was investigated right away. They had a pain clinic colleague and an OT come take a look at her within 30 minutes or so.

So a relatively fast diagnosis at 3 months, although the management of her condition over the following 9 years has been sporadic, poor and uncoordinated. In my opinion it seems to be a lucky dip as to when you get to meet a medical professional with prior experience of this illness or the capacity to spot it. Awareness of CRPS among GPs in particular in the UK seems to be really low, at least in my neck of the woods. (South west UK). I have often sat with my partner in GP appointments and had to explain it to them, or watch as they google it. Her current GP is simply amazing but took a long time to find