I believe there is sufficient research to support the affects of CRPS/RSD on the the limbic system beyond simply a hypothesis. To that effect I have copied a small section of the abstract from Dr. Hooshang Hooshmand's website below for consideration.

"4. EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF CRPS:

LIMBIC SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION

The forth and final diagnostic principle is emotional disturbance in CRPS. In contrast to somatic sensory nerves, the sensory neuropathic nerve fibres responsible for the development of CRPS do not end up in the contralateral neocortical parietal sensory cortex. Instead, according to Bennarroch, over 90% of these sensory nerve impulses terminate in the limbic system. More over, positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrates a significant cerebral insular and limbic activation during painful stimulation of neuropathic pain. The vicious circle of chronic neuropathic pain leading to disturbance of plasticity, as well as inflammation, causes further long term potentiation (LTP)of pain impulse and nerve stimulation in higher centers in the limbic system. This leads to insomnia, agitation, depression, poor memory and poor judgment. The above neurophysiological observations explain the fact that practically every patient suffering from CRPS demonstrates some degree of limbic system disturbance. In our study of 824 patients, one or more of the limbic system dysfunctions were present in every case except three. These consisted of insomnia (92%), irritability, agitation, anxiety (78%), (depression (73%), poor memory and concentration (48%), poor judgment (36%), and panic attacks (32%). Understanding the nature of emotional components of RSD spares the patient from misdiagnosis and improper treatment."

http://rsdrx.com/CRPSABSTRACT.htm


MsL