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Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

After attending a pain clinic for the past four years, I have discovered many ways to help manage the discomfort that RSD has left me with.  For more discussions about RSD, please go to the Chat Room, or read the RSD Board.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a chronic, painful, and progressive neurological condition that affects skin, muscles, joints, and bones. I developed this syndrome after falling and injuring my arm.  This syndrome will often develop after an injury such as a broken leg, or even following surgery. Sometimes the injury can be so minor as even a sprain. 

There are two types of RSD/CRPS.  I found the following information at http://www.podiatrychannel.com/rsd/:

Types
Two types of RSD/CRPS have been defined:

• Type 1 - without nerve injury
• Type 2 (formerly called causalgia) - with nerve injury

Both types share the same signs and symptoms.

According to this same website, this disorder is more prevalent in people between the ages of 40-60.  RSD seems to be the result of the brain and spinal cord control various processes and they change as a result of the injury.  My doctor described it as the nuerotransmitters sending the wrong message to the receptors.

Here are some other possible causes of RSD/CRPS include the following:

• Cerebral lesions
• Heart Disease, Heart Attack 
• Infection
• Paralysis on one side of the body (hemiplegia)
• Radiation therapy
• Repetitive motion disorder Spinal cord disorders
• Surgery
• Trauma (e.g., bone fracture, gunshot and shrapnel wounds)

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