Hello lewezz-ga!
Thank you for getting back to me. I?ve found some information that I
believe will be helpful to you.
RSD stands for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome. It is also known
as CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). It is a chronic neurological
syndrome that is characterized by ?severe burning pain, pathological
changes in bone and skin, excessive sweating, tissue swelling, extreme
sensitivity to touch.?
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association
http://www.rsds.org/2/what_is_rsd_crps/index.html
RSD is defined in clinical terms on the same website:
?Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD) is also known as Complex
Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). RSD/CRPS is a multi-symptom,
multi-system, syndrome usually affecting one or more extremities, but
may affect virtually any part of the body. Although it was clearly
described 125 years ago by Drs. Mitchell, Moorehouse and Keen,
RSD/CRPS remains poorly understood and is often unrecognized.
The best way to describe RSD/CRPS is in terms of an injury to a nerve
or soft tissue (e.g. broken bone) that does not follow the normal
healing path. The development of RSD/CRPS does not appear to depend on
the magnitude of the injury (e.g. a sliver in the finger can trigger
the disease). In fact, the injury may be so slight that the patient
may not recall ever having received an injury. For reasons we do not
understand, the sympathetic nervous system seems to assume an abnormal
function after an injury. There is no single laboratory test to
diagnose RSD/CRPS. Therefore, the physician must assess and document
both subjective complaints (medical history) and, if present,
objective findings (physical examination), in order to support the
diagnosis. There is a natural tendency to rush to the diagnosis of
RSD/CRPS with minimal objective findings because early diagnosis is
critical. If undiagnosed and untreated, RSD/CRPS can spread to all
extremities, making the rehabilitation process a much more difficult
one. If diagnosed early, physicians can use mobilization of the
affected extremity (physical therapy) and sympathetic nerve blocks to
cure or mitigate the disease. If untreated, RSD/CRPS can become
extremely expensive due to permanent deformities and chronic pain.
There are no studies showing that RSD/CRPS affects the patient?s life
span. The potential exists for long-term financial consequences. At an
advanced state of the illness, patients may have significant
psychosocial and psychiatric problems, they may have dependency on
narcotics and may be completely incapacitated by the disease. The
treatment of patients with advanced RSD is a challenging and
time-consuming task.?
http://www.rsds.org/3/clinical_guidelines/index.html#diagnosis
On a basic level, there is an injury, whether from an accident or
surgery or any other ?inciting event? that causes nerve damage or
irritation. After the injury has healed, pain (and the other things
mentioned above) continues along the nerve that was damaged or
irritated. The pain is usually much worse than would normally be
expected for the specific injury. Prolonged immobilization (e.g., a
cast or a splint, etc.) can also cause RSD.
This is a very informative ?fact or fiction? page on RSD:
http://www.rsds.org/2/fact_fiction/index.html
There aren?t any tests for RSD, so its diagnosis is entirely
symptom-based. Also, it?s what is called a ?diagnosis of exclusion.?
That means that other syndromes and diseases that could cause similar
symptoms must first be excluded before it can be concluded that one
indeed has RSD.
As for treatment, please see the following web page?it has a number of
links to helpful information about diagnosis and treatment. Any kind
of physician can treat RSD, so long as they have knowledge of it. It?s
not necessarily specific to neurologists.
http://www.rsds.org/3/treatment/index.html
This condition has also been in the news recently. American Idol judge
Paula Abdul has gone public with her own private battle with RSD.
An RSD/CRPS site ? page about Paula Abdul
http://www.rsdcrps.com/paulaabdul.html
That site also has a lot of clear and helpful information. I recommend
reviewing it. I think you?ll find it to be quite informative and
validating, too.
http://www.rsdcrps.com/
Well, if you and your physician find that you do indeed have RSD, I?m
sincerely sorry to hear about your pain. It doesn?t sound like a very
easy thing to endure. I wish you the best in dealing with it and hope
that you can find treatment options that help alleviate the pain and
discomfort. I hope that you find this information helpful and useful.
Should you need further clarification, please let me know how I can
help.
Sincerely,
Boquinha-ga
Search Strategy:
Online research in conjunction with discussion with my husband who is
an osteopathic family physician
Search Terms Used:
RSD
Paula Abdul and RSD |
