Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

• What is RSD?
• Symptoms of RSD
• Causes of RSD
• How is RSD Diagnosed?
• Will it go away?

RSD is a chronic pain disorder involving the sympathetic nervous system. It usually is the result of an injury or trauma, but can also be a complication of surgery, infection, casting or splinting and myocardial infraction (heart attack).

RSD is also known as "Complex Regional Pain Syndrome". This disease normally begins in one area of the body. Sadly, it tends to progress with time to other parts of the body. Rather than getting less painful, as the disease progresses, it tends to become more painful. Our clients have described it to us as constant burning pain, with sensitivity to touch and temperature. The pain is intense, burning, and not significantly reduced by normal pain medication.

The first indication of RSD is prolonged pain usually more severe than the injury. The symptoms are severe burning pain in a localized area, intense sensitivity to temperature and light touch, and a color change to the skin.

There are several stages to RSD, which progress at different rates in different people. Initially, there is swelling and redness in the affected area.

Next, the area becomes blue and cold, with increased pain and stiffness of ligaments and joints, and Osteoporosis may become evident.

Finally, there may be a wasting of affected muscles, contraction of tendons, and a definite withering of the affected limb. In all of the stages, severe chronic pain continues to be a major complaint.

If your Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is a result of someone else's negligence, you need a legal professional with specific experience in handling RSD cases. At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, we have this specific experience. We have handled many cases where RSD occurred as the result of someone else's negligence.

CLINICAL SYMPTOMS OF RSD

• Loss or diminished motor function
• Muscle spasms
• Increased sweating
• Changes in skin temperature and color
• Bone softening - patchy osteoporosis

WHAT CAUSES RSD?

• Trauma (often minor) such as a bruise, sprain or broken bone
• Surgery
• Myocardial Infarction (heart attack)
• Infections
• Repetitive motion disorders such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

HOW IS RSD DIAGNOSED?

• Clinical Evaluation
• Sympathetic Blockade
• X-Ray
• Thermographic Study
• EMG, CAT scan, MRI studies
• IV Systemic Blockade

Will my RSD ever go away?

With early treatment, you may keep complex regional pain syndrome from getting worse. Sometimes the condition improves. If treatment is started early enough, the symptoms may completely go away. However, people with more severe symptoms that have lasted for a long time often don't respond to treatment. Those people may benefit from a pain management program aimed specifically at dealing with chronic pain.