NeuroTalk Support Groups - What is reflex sympathetic dystorphy?

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD and CRPS) (https://www.neurotalk.org/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-rsd-and-crps-/)

- - What is reflex sympathetic dystorphy? (https://www.neurotalk.org/reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-rsd-and-crps-/1552-reflex-sympathetic-dystorphy.html)

What is reflex sympathetic dystorphy?

Howdy folks :)

I do not know what rsd is exactly. I would like to know some of the causes, symptoms, and any side effects of medication for treatment of rds.

This will give me a better understanding of what you are going through and how I can better assist you.

For those of you that don't know me, please read this thread....

http://forums.braintalk2.org/showthread.php?t=1330

Hi Their,
It's nice to meet you. Here is a article that explains RSD a little. Hugs, Roz

http://www.rsds.org/2/what_is_rsd_crps/index.html

Thanks for the link :) I'll try to read it later on tonight.

Far as I can tell RSD is a nerve disease with the nerves on, and screaming in pain when there shouldn't be any reason for them to be screaming in pain as much as they are doing.

I got my RSD II from lack of blood oxygen to the right leg from a botched angiogram.
after the angio someone used a man made device to stop the bleeding from the incision in 15 minutes instead of 45 minutes of direct pressure. Only no one told this person no pressure, and the person pushed it into the femoral artery blocking the blood-flow to the right leg.

8 days later, damage done! They needed to save the leg from being amputated, which they did, but left me with RSD II. So lack of blood oxygen can cause this disease.

The pain is the worst known to man, and is relentless in driving a person from sanity. I believe that is why these forums are sooo important, especially for people with diseases like RSD where there is a great amount of pain, and it changes the course of your life with not very many people believing that you can be in that much pain. Even doctors will send you away with words like: It's all in your head, or they just flat out don't believe you, and that goes for the families also.

There is a higher suicide rate amongst RSD people. The pain and living adjustment, plus the fact that hardly anyone believes you, pushes people over the edge. Read everything you can find on the subject because what you guys are doing with the forums is outstanding work! The more you know how the people react the better it is for you guys in determining how you handle certain situations.

My hat is off to John, and you for putting in the time and effort to bring something to the hurting people they need. I really didn't know how much until here recently when BT1 went down. There really is no other place on the web like it, and for sure no other can fill it's shoes.

RSD has changed my life completely with daily pain hovering around a 7, that is out of a scale of 1 - 10, and 10 being worst pain. Plus not being able to work anymore is a whole n'other story.

I think it is a good thing that you are showing an interest in RSD, keep at it bro cause we need more people that know about it.

Hope your days are filled with joy, happiness, and zero pain! :D
Allen

hi mike,

good to have u here with us!

as far as the causes of rsd?....take your pick: blunt force trauma, nerve injury, chronic severe stress, auto-immune disorder, oxygen deprivation, all of the above, none of the above?......the most common trigger seems to be nerve injury, but nobody is too sure of the cause.....if it's any comfort, my daughter's in medical school, and at a recent neurology lecture, the prof siad that rsd remains a mystery.

symptoms r easier to discuss....there r LOADS of those.....the most common r intractable pain, swelling, discoloration (ranging from pale thru mottled red to dark purple)......also, any body function controlled by the sympathetic nervous system is likely to display symptoms, e/g, sweating (either lack of, or uncontrolled), temperature control in whole or in part...when i get hot or cold, it can take hours to restore my body temp to a comfy level....also, at times, my hands will be burning hot, and my elbows, icy cold.......sensitivity to noise and/or vibrations -- this is the one that drives me insane; i haven't been to a movie in years because the sound levels r unbearable and painful....many of us have skin problems (the rsd 'rash')....insomnia is also common.

meds?...aside from pain meds, anti-seizure meds top the list, in conjunction with anti-depressants, a combo that can leave people feeling very slow mentally, and also tends to lead to weight gain....also common r drugs for muscle spasms.....NOTHING on this list is universally effective and some of our most heated discussions have centered on which drugs r useful and which r not.....same thing with treatments -- some of us swear by nerve blocks, others swear AT them.

if this is confusing, i'm sorry.....rsd is a confusing malady....once, in the chatroom i told soemone who asked what the letters stood for that it meant "really spooky disease" and i was told that it really wasn't fair -- many neuro things deserve that designation.....that's probably true, but we happen to be the ones with the right initials!

hope this helps.:confused:

best to all,
liz

thanks zombie slayer

to put it in one word.........PAIN

I understand that there are 2 types of RSD. Type 1 is an undefined nerve injury and type 2 is when a major nerve that has been damaged can be identified.

I also think that a nerve block is pretty self explanitory as to what it basically does.

RSD is a little confusing and it's going to take a bit of time for me to gain a bit of understanding as to what you are all going through.

I'm not a stranger to pain, but I have not had to live with constant pain for more than a few days.