International

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Foundation©

"Dedicated To Helping RSD Patients Worldwide"

Eric M. Phillips

P.O. Box 1145

Lakeville, Massachusetts 02347 USA

Phone: 508-946-9888  Fax: 508-946-3338

 

Office Hours

Monday through Friday

9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. EST

 

Please view the following new topics:Dr.Ellen G. Wattay's Updated Manual for the Diagnosis and Treatment of RSD/CRPS I,  Clinical Contribution To CRPS I, RSD Poems, Clinical Trials: Lenalidomide in the Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I and CRPS and Sympathectomy.

Home Background About RSD RSD Puzzles #1-146 Cryotherapy Venipuncture CRPS Thermography Part - I Thermography Part- II Nerve Block Abstract CRPS - Sympathectomy Microcirculation Clinical Contribution On-line RSD Survey Printable RSD Survey RSD References RSD and Pregnancy Social Security Ruling RSD and SSDI Clinical Trials Dental Referrals Photonic Stimulator RSD Medical Articles RSD Articles List RSD Article #1 RSD Article #2 RSD Article #3 RSD Article #4 RSD Article #5 RSD Article #6 RSD Article #7 RSD Article #8 RSD Article #9 RSD Article #10 RSD Article #11 RSD Article #12 RSD Article #13 RSD Article #14 RSD Article #15 RSD Article #16 RSD Article #17 RSD Manual For P.T.'s Medical Journal Links In The News Support Group Info RSD Events Links Language Translator Updates E-mail Search RSD Info Request RSD Poems

About

RSD/CRPS

 

 

What is RSD/CRPS?

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), more recently known as  Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a disease brought on by damage or trauma to the Sympathetic Nervous System. It can be brought on by an accident, as in my case, minor trauma or surgery (i.e., arthroscopy of the knee or shoulder, carpal tunnel surgery, disc herniation surgery, removal of neuroma, rib resection, tarsal tunnel surgery, ulnar nerve surgery, etc.)

 

There are four stage of RSD/CRPS:

 

bulletStage I -Dysfunction

 

bulletStage II - Dystrophy

 

bulletStage III - Atrophy

 

bulletStage IV - Irreversible, Failure of the Immune system

 

 

Below are some of the symptoms of RSD/CRPS:



bulletBurning Pain in Extremities Chronic Pain after Injury or Surgery

 

bulletChronic Pain after Injury or Surgery

 

bulletCold Feeling in Extremities

 
bulletDiscoloration of the Skin

 
bulletEdema (Swelling of the Extremities)

 
bulletHypersensitivity to Touch

 
bulletLimited Range of Motion

bulletMuscle Spasms

 

 

Below are some treatments to avoid:

 

bulletAmputation

 

bulletApplication of Ice

 

bulletChemical Sympathectomy  (i.e., Alcohol nerve block , Phenol nerve block )

 

bulletImproper Nerve Blocks ( i.e., Repetitive stellate ganglion nerve blocks)

 

bulletRadiofrequency Sympathectomy

 

bulletSpinal Cord Stimulators (SCS)

 

bulletSurgical Sympathectomy

 

bulletUnnecessary Surgery

 

 

You can see that the symptoms are varied and unique. RSD (CRPS) can be in the upper extremities, lower extremities, there is facial RSD and total body RSD (CRPS). I know this is brief, but I have avoided an in-depth discussion on this page because I am not a professional. Although I do have an office filled with documentation on RSD (CRPS) from professionals all over the world, and I would prefer if you obtained the information from the literature that they have provided me. I have placed some of the information that I have regarding (RSD) Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy on this web site, please click on the following link  "RSD ARTICLES" to view this information. Also please make sure that you fill out the "RSD INFO REQUEST FORM" , so you will be notified of updates on new RSD information and future RSD conferences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The material on the IRSDF Homepage and all its associated, linked or reference pages is for informational and education purposes. It is not meant to take the place of your physician. Before starting, changing, or stopping any treatments or medicines consult your physician.
Eric M. Phillips, and Associates will not be held liable for any damage or loss as a result of information provided on this page or associated documentation. Again, this WEBSITE is simply published as an information source and should not be used to treat or make judgments on RSD. All material owned by others, that is distributed or published on this website, disk media, facsimile or copied through electronic or photographic means has been done so with the permission of the owner or author. Any and all material published in error, will be immediately removed or corrected upon notification of such. The IRSDF organization title known as the "International Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Foundation" and all associated material on this website may not be copied, reproduced or quoted without expressed written permission from the owner;  Copyright  ©1996-2008 Eric M. Phillips- Last Update 2/9/2000

 

 

Back Home Next