Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) is a debilitating disorder
involving the human skin, nerves, blood vessels, and bones. The
sympathetic nervous system reacts to a stimulus for example, an injury.
Blood flow may be affected in reaction to a burn, cut, or severe
temperature changes. To prevent you from further using an injured limb,
the limb swells. Sometimes inexplicably an abnormal or prolonged
sympathetic reflex begins in a limb as reaction to a trauma.The sympathetic nerves become overactive and can cause a variety of symptoms that may cause debilitating consequences. There can be many symptoms, but the most common one is burning pain. Some of the other symptoms include swelling, temperature change, skin color change, diminished motor function, and severe sweating. These symptoms usually happen in a limb but can occur in other body parts eg. face. Symptoms may vary with each individual who has CRPS type one (RSD). Read about other experience or share your own in our RSD Forum.
RSD is the common name used for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
(CRPS). The name of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) was changed to
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in 1993 by the International
Association for the Study of Pain. The are 2 forms of CRPS. The only
difference between type 1 and type 2 is type two is easier to diagnose.
CRPS type one is formerly known as RSD and CRPS type two was causalgia.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy are used
synonymously today. RSD should not be confused with rhabdomyosarcoma
(rhabdo) which is another debilitating disease.RSD Causes
- Trauma (often minor)- Soft-tissue injuries
- fractures heart disease (caused by inadequate blood supply)
- Spinal cord disorders
- Cerebral lesions
- Infections
- Surgery
- Repetitive motion disorder (RMD)
- carpal tunnel syndrome
In many cases, a definite cause of CRPS Type 1(RSD) has never been found. It is not known why these factors cause CRPS but there are many hypotheses that are the subject of research around the world even today.
CRPS type two (causalgia) is defined by burning pain, allodynia, and onset usually occurs after nerve injury but it may be delayed. The most common nerves involved are the median, sciatic, ulnar, and tibial. The burning pain is constant and exacerbated by:
- light
- touch
- stress
- temperature
- movement of the limb
- emotional disturbance
Abnormalities in skin temperature and blood flow may occur as well as sudomotor dysfunction. Dystrophic changes may occur in the skin, hair or nails.
Symptoms OF RSD
The main difference between CRPS type 1 (RSD) and CRPS type 2(Causalgia) is that Type 2 is caused by a proven nerve injury. Recent research (see Medical Updates) shows CRPS Type 1 is nerve injury and NOT a somatic disorder. The symptoms of both diseases are identical.There are four cardinal signs that indicate CRPS Type 1 and 2:
SWELLING is sometimes localized, but often unrelenting, and progressive. Swelling intensifies the pain and promotes stiffness which can be the beginning of atrophy and deformity.
When tissue is injured or inflamed, excess fluid enters the tissues from damaged blood vessels within these injured tissues. If the veins cannot remove all of this fluid, the part swells (edema). However this swelling is usually only temporary, because the tissues heal and the blood vessels no longer leak excessively.
Swelling is one of the symptoms of RSD. Early in the course of the disease, this inflammatory process causes edema. The swelling in RSD may exist far longer than it would take normal tissue to heal because RSD:
- prevents healing
- causes constant inflammation
- may cause dilation of the arteries which will cause more fluid to leak, and may cause the veins to contract, which also prevent the normal removal of non-protein fluid from tissues.
- It is pretty easy to see that the edema of RSD may last for long periods of time.
STIFFNESS, like swelling, is progressive resulting in less motion of the joints, which again, results in increased swelling and pain This in turn, can produce further deformity and joint changes.
DISCOLORATION indicates circulatory changes that diminish the nutrition of the tissues of the skin, ligaments, bones and tendons. The result is thin, shiny skin, pencil-like fingers and changes in ligaments. This further contributes to stiffness and pain. CRPS in the upper extremities had been classified in the following five ways, based on the location and intensity of symptoms.
RSD & CRPS Frustration
RSD/CRPS is frequently dismissed by health professionals for many reasons including:They don’t understand the diagnosis and/or they are not familiar with the disorder.
They understand the diagnosis but lack experience in how to treat it properly.
Many think that the client is pretending to be ill.
RSD/CRPS is thought to be hopeless and there is no cure. (There is hope!)
RSD/CRPS is purely psychological and that it is not a medical condition, i.e. “It’s all in your head”. (This is a myth.)
Many people who work within the health care system dread accepting a client with RSD because effective treatment requires an ongoing, almost daily assessment of the condition to develop the proper regimen. It is far too time consuming for most clinics to adequately care for RSD clients.
Due to the nature of RSD, the condition can quickly change for better or worse for reasons that are not fully understood. Therefore it is necessary to schedule evenly spaced treatment sessions in order to benefit the client.
The health care provider must address the plan of care very carefully once the diagnosis is made and must thoroughly customize therapy for each client. All individual characteristics (psychological, social, physiological) must be taken into account during therapy.
Communication between the family members, health professionals, and the client must be clear, ongoing and become well established. It is common for the client to have failed in a previous program if a positive, creative, caring relationship was not established. If either the client or the therapist senses a communication problem, it is far better to acknowledge that another clinician may be of greater benefit to the client’s progress.
RSD DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis is determined through X-rays, three phase bone scan, skin tests, joint fluid analysis, and thermo graphic studies. Sometimes the phentolamine test is used. Thermography is more sensitive than any other diagnostic tool when diagnosing RSD according to Dr. H. Hooshmand. He states that diagnosing RSD without thermography is like diagnosing a heart attack without an EKG. It should be noted that the CT scan, EMG, and MRI studies may be normal during the first stage of RSD. Along with the tests, signs and symptoms of RSD are taken into account. All the pieces of the puzzle must fit to render a proper diagnosis.NOTE: In some parts of Canada, thermography is available but other areas do not have this diagnostic tool. We are trying to get better diagnostic tools which will mean earlier diagnosis of RSD and faster, more efficient treatment.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
The primary task is to eliminate or treat all possible causes. If there is no known cause, or if with the removal of the cause, the symptoms do not satisfactorily disappear, then there are only the symptoms of RSD/CRPS to be treated. Before undertaking any skin treatment, whether it is a mole removal, birthmark removal, or expected case of RSD, it is important that you consult a trained medical professional.SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF RSD/CRPS is dependent on:
Early diagnosis. If diagnosed early, the prognosis is very good.
Begin treatment of the underlying cause, if there is one. If not, then focus on the treatment of the CRPS process.
Effective sympathetic blocks by blocking nerve impulses with anaesthetic agents used in severe pain. Blocks may provide permanent or temporary relief. Sustained physical therapy to maintain flexibility, strength, and range of motion are recommended. No use of the limb can result in atrophy and eventually not being able to use the limb.
Progressive management techniques, if necessary for example, biofeedback to control pain and blood flow, pain management techniques, counseling, etc.
MAKING CIRCUMSTANCES FAVORABLE
It is the task of the practitioner to give advice concerning the
limits of the client’s endurance. The outcome of the treatment is not
only in the hands of the doctor or physiotherapist but also in the hands
of the client himself. Listening and following advice regarding the
stress applied, in relation to the current stress tolerance, (of the
affected extremity) becomes a problem that reoccurs in treatment. The
client and the doctor can work together towards the common goal.Too much or too little exercise of the arm or leg is not good. It often requires an adjustment of lifestyle and sensible handling of the burden of the affected arm or leg. Rehabilitation is appropriate and must be ongoing. One must make the circumstances for recovery as favorable as possible.
Due to the mysteries surrounding CRPS, problems can arise concerning the client’s disabilities, social functioning, employment, relationships, and the environment. These problems also need to be addressed.
RSD REHABILITATION
As part of the treatment, if recovery fails to materialize, and if the client is limited by circumstances in everyday life i.e. getting around, then special steps may be necessary. A referral to a rehabilitation specialist is always sensible in this case.We know that a minority of CRPS clients will be left with disabilities and that treatment may be insufficient for them. Client and doctor must keep an eye on the treatment, its progress and make changes if necessary. If recovery is complete, people can, in principle, function fully again. Even with incomplete recovery, work is often possible but one must take into account chronic pain, and the decreased ability to bear weight.
THE SECOND OPINION
For the client, there is always the possibility of asking for a
second opinion. This should be done in consultation with the doctor, but
permission is not necessary. A second opinion certainly does not mean
that the doctor who gives it will then begin treating his client.
However, a second opinion is reasonable in cases of RSD/CRPS.