What is RSD?
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), is a chronic pain, neurological syndrome. RSD is a malfunction of the central nervous system, which causes pain and additional symptoms.
Symptoms of RSD include:
RSD is a lifetime illness - there is currently no cure.
Early and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are key to recovery, yet many health care professionals and consumers are unaware of its signs and symptoms. Typically, people with CRPS report seeing an average of five physicians before being accurately diagnosed.
The mean age at diagnosis is 42 years. However, there are more injuries among young girls, and children as young as 3 years old can get CRPS. CRPS is two to three times more frequent in females than males.
This is not a psychological syndrome, but people may develop psychological problems when physicians, family, friends, and co-workers do not believe their complaints of pain.
Treatments for RSD may include medication, physical therapy, psychological support, sympathetic nerve blocks, Ketamine Infusion and/or spinal cord stimulation.
Source - "RSDSA :: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association." RSDSA :: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2013.
Symptoms of RSD include:
- severe intense burning pain (feeling like you are on fire)
- changes in bone density
- excessive sweating
- tissue swelling
- extreme sensitivity to touch
- dramatic changes in the color and temperature of the skin over the affected limb or body part
- skin sensitivity
RSD is a lifetime illness - there is currently no cure.
Early and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are key to recovery, yet many health care professionals and consumers are unaware of its signs and symptoms. Typically, people with CRPS report seeing an average of five physicians before being accurately diagnosed.
The mean age at diagnosis is 42 years. However, there are more injuries among young girls, and children as young as 3 years old can get CRPS. CRPS is two to three times more frequent in females than males.
This is not a psychological syndrome, but people may develop psychological problems when physicians, family, friends, and co-workers do not believe their complaints of pain.
Treatments for RSD may include medication, physical therapy, psychological support, sympathetic nerve blocks, Ketamine Infusion and/or spinal cord stimulation.
Source - "RSDSA :: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association." RSDSA :: Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Jan. 2013.