Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type I, is a chronic pain syndrome that can affect any part of the body, however, it occurs most frequently in the hands, feet, arms, legs, shoulders or knees. It has been recognized as a distinct clinical condition for over 100 years and has been known by various names including algodystrophy, Sudeck's atrophy, causalgia, and sympathetically-maintained pain.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is characterized by:

• Severe, chronic pain often described as stinging or burning
• Sensory abnormalities such as allodynia (pain due to a stimulus which does not normally provoke pain) or hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to stimuli)
• Motor impairment such as weakness, tremor, stiffness, or decreased range of motion
• Edema (tissue swelling) and hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating)
• Progressive trophic changes to skin, hair, nails, muscle, and bone
• Increasing dysfunction of the affected limb

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy causes great suffering and distress in most patients. In addition to severe pain, which in some people remains chronic and unremitting, patients may also experience serious physical disabilities and reduction in their quality of life that can lead to:

• Depression
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Anger

Although the symptoms and clinical features of RSD can vary from patient to patient, the one common cardinal feature that is shared by all patients is severe pain that is disproportionate to the original injury. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy does not exist in the absence of pain.

Currently, there is no single test for the diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Therefore, physicians use both subjective (patient history) and objective (physical examination) methods to establish a diagnosis. Imaging or other tests may be included to confirm the diagnosis or to rule out other conditions.

A variety of other conditions can mimic the signs and symptoms of reflex sympathetic dystrophy and have to be ruled out before a definite diagnosis of RSD can be established. These include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Gout
• Lumbar or cervical disk herniation
• Peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy
• Nerve entrapment syndromes (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome)
• Thoracic outlet syndrome

Currently, there is no cure for RSD because the underlying disease process is not well understood. Treatment, therefore, is aimed at controlling and reducing the severity of the symptoms. In general, early diagnosis and treatment is associated with a more favorable prognosis.

The goals of treatment for reflex sympathetic dystrophy include:

• Controlling and minimizing pain
• Functional rehabilitation of the affected limb
• Managing any psychological deficits, such as depression and anxiety, if present
• Prevention of progression and worsening of RSD symptoms
• Improving the patient's quality of life

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy can be a lifelong condition that can have a significant impact not only on the patient but on family and friends as well. The condition may affect many aspects of the patient's life in varying degrees including:

• Activities of daily living
• Employment
• Social life
• Personal life

Some adjustments of daily life that RSD patients may have to make include:

• Frequent leave of absence from work or possibly early retirement due to inability or difficulty performing work-related tasks
• Giving up or modifying leisure activities such as hiking, kayaking, traveling
• Modification of exercise regimens
• Foregoing routine activities such as driving or shopping
• Participating in some family activities and outings.

Knowledge is Critical when Dealing with a Life-Altering Condition such as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with RSD, it's critical to learn everything you possibly can about this condition so that you can make informed decisions about your treatment. That's why we created the Medifocus Guidebook on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a comprehensive 154 page patient Guidebook that contains vital information about RSD that you won't find anywhere in a single source.

The Medifocus Guidebook on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy starts out with a detailed overview of the condition and quickly imparts fundamentally important information about RSD, including:

• The known underlying causes of RSD.
• The mechanisms responsible for the exaggerated pain response that people who develop RSD experience.
• The risk factors for developing RSD. The wide range of physical signs and symptoms that often accompany RSD including sensory, motor, trophic, and sudomotor changes.
• The psychological changes, such as fear, anxiety, and depression that people with RSD often experience.
• How RSD is diagnosed based on factors such as signs/symptoms, physical examination, special diagnostic tests, and sympathetic nerve blocks.

Understanding the Treatments...and the Treatment Options

Because currently there is no know cure for RSD, treatment is aimed at controlling and reducing the severity of the symptoms. Understanding the treatments - and the treatment options - is critical for not only controlling the symptoms but also for preserving the patient's overall level of functional ability and quality of life. As you read through the section of the Guidebook that focuses on the treatments for RSD, you will specifically learn about:

• The standard first-line medications that are usually the initial drugs of choice for the management of RSD pain.
• The alternative medications that may be prescribed for patients whose pain does not respond adequately to first-line medications.
• The common side-effects associated with specific medications that are used to control RSD pain.

• The treatment options that are available for the management of severe RSD pain that does not respond to pain medications, including interventional procedures such as:

  • Nerve blocks
  • Chemical and surgical sympathectomy
  • Spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation
  • Implantable spinal pumps

• Functional rehabilitation of the RSD-affected limb, which is a major goal of RSD treatment, using modalities such as:

  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Vocational therapy
  • Recreational therapy

• Managing the psychological aspects of RSD that can interfere with activities of daily living and diminish quality of life, using various strategies including:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Biofeedback
  • Relaxation therapy
  • Counseling and education

• Quality of life issues that many people with RSD must confront and learn how to deal with, including:

  • Performing activities of daily living
  • Employment issues, such as frequent absence from work
  • Social issues, such as missing family activities or not being able to participate in outings with friends
  • Personal issues, such as a diminished sex drive

• The prognosis (outlook) for people with RSD and the factors that can have a significant impact in predicting the overall chance of recovery.

• Important questions to ask your doctor about RSD.

• PRINTED GUIDEBOOK - Soft-cover book that is available for immediate shipping within the United States and its territories:
  
  
  • Regular List Price = $39.95
  • Less 25% Discount = - $10.00
  • Your Discounted Price = $29.95

• DIGITAL GUIDEBOOK - Available for immediate download as a PDF document:
  
  
  • Regular List Price = $26.60
  • Less 25% Discount = - $6.65
  • Your Discounted Price = $19.95

• Within the United States (toll free): 1-800-965-3002
• Outside the United States: 1-301-649-9300

Updated: January 19, 2023
154 Pages