Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Overview
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also known as the complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is an unusual chronic condition that primary affects a person’s arms or legs, and rarely the other parts of the body. It is believed that RSD arises as a result of central or peripheral nervous system disorders, and found more profoundly in women than men.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Causes
The cause of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy syndrome is implicit, and several reasons of its occurrence have been listed by the experts. Commonly, RSD begins after a serious injury or illness that didn’t cause much damage to the nerves in your affected limb. Following may be some other causes:
Irritation of the nervous tissues that affect the blood vessels and skin
Trauma
Surgery
Heart disease
Degenerative arthritis of the neck,
Stroke or other brain diseases
Nerve irritation by entrapment
Shoulder and back problems
Breast cancer
Emotional stress (not a cause, but may worsen RSD)
In general, it is known that when the pain receptors in the affected area of the body start responding to catecholamine (fight-or-flight" hormones that are released by the adrenal glands in response to stress). The injury -based RSD may be due to the generation of immune response, which may cause inflammatory symptoms of redness, warmth, and swelling in the affected part.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Symptoms
Following are the most recognizable symptoms of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, which may vary in severity and duration.
Burning ache
Swelling and bulging of the affected areas
Sweating in the affected region
Lack of ability to move the affected body part
Muscle weakness
Changes in nail and hair growth patterns, which may be fast growth or no growth at all
Changes in the skin including skin color, temperature, and skin texture
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Diagnosis
Diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome is nonspecific and may initiate with a physical exam and your medical history. However, there is no specific diagnostic test that can exactly diagnose complex regional pain syndrome, but the following procedures may be helpful:
Bone scan
Sympathetic nervous system tests
X-rays, MRI, and CT scanning methods
Radionuclide bone imaging (RNBI) provides extremely objective evidence to diagnose Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Treatment
Chronic pain treatment for complex regional pain syndrome when started early on can prove extremely effective in not only improving but also reducing the discomfort and irritation. If you are experiencing severe pain in any specific limb, you need to see a doctor and start your treatment immediately. Treatment includes:
Pain medication and Drug treatment such as topical analgesics, narcotics, corticosteroids, antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs
Therapies, which include heat & cold application, psychotherapy, physical therapy, and Biofeedback
Spinal cord stimulation is a treatment involving the insertion of tiny electrodes along your spinal cord and passing gentle electric current to relieve ache
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) treatment involves applying electrical impulses to nerve endings
Sympathetic nerve-blocking medication involves inserting an anesthetic next to the spine to directly block the affected nerves and ease the hurting
For more information please consult us at Pacific Pain Care Consultants
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Prevention
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy can be awfully painful and challenging. Therefore, try your best to prevent the condition from happening instead of curing it when it has. Here’s what you can do:
Pursue activities that you like and divert your attention from the pain
Seek help and support in any way you can – friends, family, pain physician etc.
Maintain your normal day tasks without taking stress and tension
Relax yourself and rest when you really need it