What is RSD disease and why is it so important to know about its symptoms and causes? RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy), also known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a chronic and progressive neurological condition that affects the bones, joints, muscles and skin. This disease does not have any age barriers; people of all ages are suffering of RSD.
The most common symptom of RSD disease is intense pain in a person’s leg or arm after suffering an injury. The pain is often described as burning or stinging. Other symptoms include abnormal sweating, sensitivity to touch, altered skin color, altered skin temperature, skin rashes, tremors, muscle spasms and frequent infections. Muscle, bone and skin atrophy are possible complications of this syndrome.
Diagnosis for RSD disease varies among patients. This is one of the reasons why most doctors often provide a wrong diagnosis. There isn’t any particular medical exam for this disease, but blood tests can confirm the absence of other conditions. Although some experts perform a variety of medical tests to diagnose RSD, a prognosis often can be made based on clinical observation alone.
There have been defined two types of RSD: Type 1, which is a chronic nerve disorder that occurs in the arms or legs after an injury and Type 2, which is triggered by a nerve injury. Both forms share the same symptoms, symptoms that progress in three stages — acute, dystrophic, and atrophic.
RSD is not a curable disease, but there are many ways to relieve its symptoms. According to NINDS, doctors can give patients opioids, antidepressants, corticosteroids and analgesics. The type of medication prescribed is different from one patient to another. In some cases, it is necessary to have devices implanted to control the disease.
Now that you read this article you won’t have to ask anymore “What is RSD disease?”, because you can recognize its symptoms from the beginning. The best is to consult a doctor and ask for medical advice before developing complications.
Written by Smelly Brain.
