Thank you for writing about RSD/CRPS. While I am very happy to see an article about this syndrome, I will say there are some problems with this article. I have suffered with this disorder for more than 2 years. I refer to this disorder as the monster that invaded my life.
First, RSD/CRPS is a disorder of the central nervous sytem that manifests in the extremeties (arm and legs). The severity of the disorder is not related to the severity of injury. the injury can be as simple as a sprain to major trauma. It is a permanent condition. There are some cases of remission but these usually happen to the younger patients.
There are three types of spreads of the disorder, a continuous spread ( i.e. up or down a limb), mirror (i.e. right arm to left arm, left leg to right leg) or random (i.e. right hand to left leg). And it can affect the whole body. There is controversy over spreading, some doctors say yes and some say no. I have had two doctors at both ends of the spectrum. I know from personal experience that it does spread. My RSD/CRPS spread from my wrist up my arm to include the whole arm.
At the present time, treatment can include medication and physical therapy. There is no one standard treatment and treatment is very individualized. Physical therapy should be done by a therapist that has knowledge or experience with RSD/CRPS. Standard PT can injury a RSD/CRPS patient. No Pain is all gain for us.
One thing that I must say is ice is not considered safe, in fact the use ice on a RSD/CRPS limb will cause more damage to the limb.
There are four main symptoms; 1. Constant burning pain 2. Inflammation 3. Spasms-in muscles or blood vessels of the extremeties and 4. Insomnia/emotional disturbances (including changes to limbic system) Another very frustrating symptom is extreme sensitivity to touch, the air blowing across their skin or touch of fabric can bring a RSD/CRPS patient to tears. (This information is from RSDHope.org.) This is just a short list, it can affect a person in many other ways. I must add that not all patients exhibit all the same symptoms at the same time. This is part of the confusing side of this disorder.
This disorder is rated as the most painful disorder on the McGill pain rating scale.
This is a very old disorder going back thousands of years. It was documented during the Civil War. And even with this history it is relatively unknown in the medical community. This results in patients not being properly diagnosed, receiving the wrong treatments and patients being treated as druggies. To protect myself I carry information to share and inform other with.
You used some very good references but the best information I have found came from RSDhope.org, RSDSA.org, and rsdrx.com.
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Thank you for writing about RSD/CRPS. While I am very happy to see an article about this syndrome, I will say there are some problems with this article. I have suffered with this disorder for more than 2 years. I refer to this disorder as the monster that invaded my life.
First, RSD/CRPS is a disorder of the central nervous sytem that manifests in the extremeties (arm and legs). The severity of the disorder is not related to the severity of injury. the injury can be as simple as a sprain to major trauma. It is a permanent condition. There are some cases of remission but these usually happen to the younger patients.
There are three types of spreads of the disorder, a continuous spread ( i.e. up or down a limb), mirror (i.e. right arm to left arm, left leg to right leg) or random (i.e. right hand to left leg). And it can affect the whole body. There is controversy over spreading, some doctors say yes and some say no. I have had two doctors at both ends of the spectrum. I know from personal experience that it does spread. My RSD/CRPS spread from my wrist up my arm to include the whole arm.
At the present time, treatment can include medication and physical therapy. There is no one standard treatment and treatment is very individualized. Physical therapy should be done by a therapist that has knowledge or experience with RSD/CRPS. Standard PT can injury a RSD/CRPS patient. No Pain is all gain for us.
One thing that I must say is ice is not considered safe, in fact the use ice on a RSD/CRPS limb will cause more damage to the limb.
There are four main symptoms; 1. Constant burning pain 2. Inflammation 3. Spasms-in muscles or blood vessels of the extremeties and 4. Insomnia/emotional disturbances (including changes to limbic system) Another very frustrating symptom is extreme sensitivity to touch, the air blowing across their skin or touch of fabric can bring a RSD/CRPS patient to tears. (This information is from RSDHope.org.) This is just a short list, it can affect a person in many other ways. I must add that not all patients exhibit all the same symptoms at the same time. This is part of the confusing side of this disorder.
This disorder is rated as the most painful disorder on the McGill pain rating scale.
This is a very old disorder going back thousands of years. It was documented during the Civil War. And even with this history it is relatively unknown in the medical community. This results in patients not being properly diagnosed, receiving the wrong treatments and patients being treated as druggies. To protect myself I carry information to share and inform other with.
You used some very good references but the best information I have found came from RSDhope.org, RSDSA.org, and rsdrx.com.
Reta
February 17, 2010 - 9:31pmThis Comment
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