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Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy syndrome, also known as Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that is believed to be the result of dysfunction in the central or peripheral nervous systems.
Because there is no cure for CRPS, treatment is aimed at relieving painful symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are important. Three forms of treatment may be combined:
- Medication
- physical therapy
- surgery
- psychological support
Medications
There is no doubt- there are lots of different medication that can help decrease the symptoms and which can be taken by mouth. To reduce symptoms and provide long-term relief, local anesthetics may be injected into a nerve bundle at the base of the neck. This procedure is called -stellate ganglion block. Doctors may prescribe topical analgesics, antidepressants, corticosteroids, and opioids to relieve pain. However, it is important to remember that no single drug or combination of drugs has produced consistent long-lasting improvement in symptoms. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) may ease pain and inflammation. Other treatments may include sympathetic nerve block, spinal cord stimulation, and intrathecal drug pumps to deliver opioids and local anesthetic in order to relieve the pain!
Physical therapy
It is proven that gradually increasing exercise program to keep the painful limb or body part moving could be extremely helpful and may help restore some range of motion and function. Therapy is important to regain function and reduce discomfort caused by RSD. Gentle, guided exercising of the affected limbs may improve range of motion and strength. Important thing to know is the fact that the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more effective exercises may be. Chronic pain is sometimes eased by applying electrical impulses to nerve endings. Sometimes doctor inserts tiny electrodes along your spinal cord and a small electrical current delivered to the spinal cord results in pain relief.
Surgery
Occasionally, surgery is performed in the later stages, but every patient should be aware of the fact that the results can be disappointing. The use of surgical sympathectomy, a technique that destroys the nerves involved in CRPS, is controversial and some experts approve it, while some- don’t! Some experts think it is unwarranted and makes CRPS worse; others report a favorable outcome. The bottom line is that sympathectomy should be used only in patients whose pain is dramatically relieved by selective sympathetic blocks.
Prognosis of Reflex Sympathetic Syndrome
The fact is that the prognosis for CRPS varies from person to person. Extremely rarely- spontaneous remission from symptoms occurs in certain individuals. Others can have unremitting pain and crippling, irreversible changes in spite of treatment. It is proven that, when treated early, many individuals with RSD have relief of symptoms within 18 months. Others individuals, unfortunately, develop chronic pain and disability. Future research will no doubt discover how and why RSD begins, how it develops, and identify those individuals at risk for chronic disease.