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
Pain is the first and
primary complaint, described as extremely severe and burning
& aching in nature
Swelling and joint tenderness
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.
At Munley,
Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our
clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the
protection of individual rights through team work and the use of our
considerable resources and experience. For a free consultation, please submit the below, or call us at:
1-800-318-LAW1
DISCLAIMER:
Attorney Advertising. Prior Results Do Not Guarantee a Similar Outcome.
Representation in jurisdictions where our attorneys are not already licensed is
performed in conjunction with local
counsel / lawyers - at no additional legal fees to our clients - and with
permission of the court.
