Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome

There are many different types of repetitive strain injuries that one may fall victim to due to overuse of the muscles of bones of the body. Often it is caused due to the strain incurred in the workplace. Most of these injuries can be easily treated with the symptoms eliminated quickly and easily.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome - Definition

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome is a subset of the problem known as complex regional pain syndrome. There are two different types of the complex regional pain syndrome

• Type 1 - It is known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.
• Type 2 - It is known as causalgia.

Both of these syndromes result in a serious feeling of pain that is experienced by the afflicted individual.

The exact cause of this syndrome is still unknown, but the suspected causes include stress, illness, and injuries. It’s a problem that can strike at any age, but more often than not, people between the ages of forty and sixty are affected.

Both men and women fall victim to the syndrome, but women are more likely to contract it. The syndrome develops near the site of an injury that a person has recently experienced.

Symptoms

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome sufferers may experience a feeling of intense, burning pain that may in fact spread outside of the original area of injury, sometimes even spreading to the opposite limb of where the injury occurred.

The symptoms of type 1 complex regional pain system include intense feelings of pain near the area of injury which is sometimes accompanied by muscle spasms as well as a lack of mobility in the area. Sometimes, hair and nail growth in the area will increase to a highly noticeable degree.

Diagnosis

There are no precise tests that can appropriately diagnose complex regional pain syndrome, and most often, doctors diagnose the syndrome purely off of the symptoms that the afflicted person says that they are experiencing.

Treatment

There are many methods when it comes to treating the syndrome. Many different drugs may be of merit, including anti-depressants as well as corticosteroids, alpha and beta blockers, and others.

Many patients opt for physical therapy as a means of eliminating the syndrome. Since the pain can be great when one moves the affected area, they often neglect moving it which can actually aggravate the problem. Inactivity can lead to growth of the syndrome.

Most often, Doctors prescribe an injection of an anesthetic in order to treat the problem as a first step. Neurostimulation has also been shown to be of merit, helping to ease the pain of reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome by stimulating the spinal cord.

Now that you know more about the problem known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, you’ll be better able to diagnose the problem should it affect you.

You may want to consider speaking with a doctor if you experience the symptoms of Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome in order to plan the best course of action for dealing with RSDS.