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DO
YOU HAVE BURNING PAIN?
- Is the pain from an injury that has not healed?
- Is the pain out of proportion to the severity of the injury?
- Has it lasted past the expected healing time?
- If your answer is yes to any of these questions, read on....
- If diagnosed within the first three to six months of onset,
80-90% of cases can be treated successfully.
REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY
(RSDS)
RSD is also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) type
1. CRPS type 2 is causalgia which is identical to type 1 except
that it is caused by a nerve lesion.
Other names:
- causalgia
- algodystrophy
- postraumatic dystrophy
- Sudeck's atrophy
- shoulder-hand syndrome
RSD/CRPS has existed since the American Civil War (1861-5) where
Dr. Silas Wier
Mitchell documented cases of causalgia in Civil War soldiers.
RSD/CRPS is a multi-system syndrome with diverse symptoms characterized
by chronic pain. Usually it affects one or more extremities but
it can affect any part of the body. Due to dilation or constriction
of the blood vessels, the blood supply to the limb (hand, foot,
hip, shoulder) is affected. The nerves, skin, muscle and bone
are also involved.
RSD is a debilitating disease which can impair the ability of
the limb to function or function can be lost.
How do you get RSD/CRPS?
- a soft tissue injury due to minor trauma in 65% of cases e.g.
sprain, twisted ankle etc.
- fracture
- surgery
- certain cervical spine or spinal cord disorders
- infections, stroke, heart attack, repetitive motion disorder,
or cumulative trauma e.g.. carpal tunnel.
- certain medications or venipuncture in rare cases
What are the symptoms?
- PAIN usually burning, severe, constant and in an area other
than the primary injury site
- SWELLING usually localized but can involve entire limb
- SKIN CHANGES: TEMPERATURE or COLOUR: eg. dystrophy, dryness,
tissue atrophy e.g.. can be cool and pallid or mottled; or warm
and red with increased sweating.
- LIMITED AROM (active range of motion) in the affected part
- INCREASE OF ABOVE COMPLAINTS after exercise
What other symptoms are there?
- motor dysfunction eg. tremor, weakness, dystonia, spasms
- dystrophy e.g. muscle wasting
- limbic system dysfunction e.g.. insomnia, agitation, anxiety,
depression, poor memory or judgment
- hair and nail changes
- bone changes e.g.. osteoporosis
- joint tenderness and swelling
How is it diagnosed?
There is NO SINGLE TEST available to diagnose RSD/CRPS.
- thorough medical history noting sign and symptoms
- examination by a qualified expert physician
- thermography which measures the heat emitted from the body
and senses skin temperature differences (may help)
DO YOU SUSPECT RSD?
If the pain is out of proportion to the injury, there is stiffness
and inflammation following a seemingly minor trauma e.g.. twisted
ankle, dropping item on foot, sprain , suspect RSD. The pain is
described as burning, shooting, stabbing or a "hot poker".
If the pain persists longer than the expected healing time of
the injury, suspect RSD.
(from: Hooshmand, H MD CRPS: Diagnosis and Management Pain Digest
Spring Verlager 1999).
TREATMENT IS CRUCIAL WITHIN THE FIRST THREE TO SIX MONTHS
when the disease responds best. It is essential that the person
be referred to the proper RSD specialist for treatment as soon
as possible.
DELAY IN TREATMENT COULD MEAN A LIFETIME OF CHRONIC PAIN
for the patient. Without treatment the disease could eventually
become resistant to treatment.
Who can get RSD/CRPS?
Anyone can get RSD, but it is more prevalent among women 3-1
to men; typically it is a women in her thirties. However, children
and teenagers can have RSD as well. For them, the prognosis
is more favourable.
What can I do?
"Early diagnosis brings the best prognosis" In RSD/CRPS
the best response to treatment is within the first three to
six months of the disease. If after reading this, you suspect
that you or a friend may have RSD, get treatment as soon as
possible. For doctor referrals in your area, please contact
us.
TREATMENT
The following is a list of treatments for RSD/CRPS:
- Drug therapy: a) local or systemic corticosteroids b) muscle
relaxants c) alpha-adrenergic and beta blockers d) analgesics
e) anti-inflammatories f) tricyclics and related compounds g)
tranquillizers h) calcium channel blockers i) membrane stabilizers
j) opiods
- Blocks: a) focal b) sympathetic blockade c) intravenous regional
blocks d) epidural
- Physical therapy: land PT or aqua therapy
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS)
- Sympathectomy: a) surgical b) chemical in selected cases
- Implantable devices: a) dorsal column stimulator b) peripheral
nerve stimulator c) morphine infusion pump
RECOMMENDATIONS
UPDATE: The doctors at the Tampa CRPS/RSD Conference in Feb.
2002 discussed the following:
- Physiotherapy
is the number one treatment modality which will return function
to the limb, range of motion, flexibility and strength. It is
imperative that PT is part of the treatment program.
- Aqua therapy
is also recommended in 92-93 degree water. It is moist heat
which is good for most RSD patients, it is non-weight bearing.
it supports weak muscles, and the amount of resistance can be
controlled. Warm water is also soothing.
- Psychological support is also recommended e.g.. counselling,
cognitive behaviour techniques, biofeedback, visualization,
relaxation techniques, hypnosis. Any of these modalities can
help.
- Medications that control pain are essential and will facilitate
the progress made in physiotherapy.
CONSENSUS REPORT
According to the 1998 Consensus Report compiled by Michael Stanton-Hicks
et al, "CRPS:Guidelines for Therapy" states that a three
pronged approach is best. The treatment algorithm has the following
three elements:
A) Medical Interventions: NSAIDS, Opiods, Tricyclics, Alpha 2
Agonists, Calcium channel Blockers. The next phase is blocks (focal,
sympathetic, regional,epidural and pumps.). Then Neurostimulation
(SCS, PNS) and medications.
B) Physical Therapy:
It is essential that early intervention occur here. Progress is
contingent upon the degree of pain and successful treatment of
pain. "It is critical to progress slowly and within patient
defined limits....adequate and liberal analgesia should be used
to facilitate these steps..". Steps include gentle reactivation:
contrast baths, desensitization. Flexibility, edema control, peripheral
E-Stim, isometric strengthening, and most importantly diagnosis
and treatment of secondary myofascial pain. Gentle ROM (range
of motion exercises), stress loading, isotonic strengthening,
general aerobic conditioning, postural normalization and balanced
use can also be done. Next is ergonomics, movement therapies,
normalization of use and vocational and functional rehabilitation.
Any of these methods can be used to facilitate progress in an
individual with RSD/CRPS.
C) Psychological Interventions: Various methods include counselling
(expectations, motivation, control, family, diary) behaviour therapy,relaxation
techniques, imagery, hypnosis and coping skills. Any of these
methods can be used.
Methods A. B. and C are designed to work simultaneously in order
to facilitate the return of function and good pain control for
the patient.
( Source: Stanton-Hicks M et al "Consensus Report: CRPS:
Guidelines for Therapy" Clin Jour Pain 1998: 14; 155-66.)
PROBLEMS
If treatment is delayed, many RSD/CRPS patients can face the
following:
- a lifetime of chronic pain.
- not being believed or misdiagnosed
- receiving inappropriate treatments
- dealing with doctors who are inexperienced in diagnosing and
treating RSD/CRPS
Unfortunately, these situations are all too common. Most of the
time, reliable information about RSD/CRPS is the key to being
believed and diagnosed properly. Receiving inappropriate treatment
would not happen if the patient and doctor were better informed.
Unnecessary surgery to "correct RSD" would also not
occur.
As the patient, it is possible to take on the responsibility
of informing the doctor . Perhaps then, some of these problems
could be avoided. Giving the doctor as much information as you
can so that he can better treat you will certainly promote a healthy
doctor-patient relationship. Working together with your doctor
is a win-win situation.
WAYS TO HELP YOUR DOCTOR
- Prioritize a list of your complaints. Whatever is bothering
you the most, list it first. e.g.. be specific about where your
pain is. e.g.. Before and after the visit, record pain levels
throughout the day to help determine the overall pattern of
how the disease affects you.
- Keep a journal of your medications and pain levels. eg. effective
and non-effective medications, side effects, etc.
- Be sure to take someone with you. Take notes so that you are
clear as to what transpired. Another point of view is often
helpful.
- Prepare a list of questions. Your spouse/friend can record
the answers.
- Keep a record of your past treatments and medications. Record
how they affected you.
- For new patients, bring your test results, scans, x-rays
etc. Make a brief summary of your medical history thus far.
WHY DO WE GET RSD?
There are several theories as to why we get RSD. Most of the
current theories cannot fully explain all the processes going
on in the body e.g.. signs and symptoms vary from patient to patient
and can be inflammatory e.g.. pain, edema, skin and temperature
changes and neurological e.g.. hyperesthesia, hyperpathy or motor
dysfunction (tremor).
The psychosocial theory states that various predisposing factors
such as emotional instability, nervousness, depression, anxiety
and life events contribute to a person developing RSD. There is
no evidence thus far, in the literature to support this theory.
Inactivity has also been suggested to contribute to edema and
muscle atrophy in RSD. In chronic RSD, atrophy and edema are present.
However, inactivity cannot explain the skin discoloration, altered
temperature or pain. Quite popular even still, is the sympathetic
theory which states that an hyperactive sympathetic nervous system
is responsible for RSD. Since sweating and vasomotor instabiltiy
are present and a sympathectomy reduces pain, this theory was
thought to hold water. However, it did not explain why some sympathectomies
did not work. None fully explained the enigma of RSD. The causlagia
theory stated that the burning sensations in RSD were caused by
a nerve injury. However, not all RSD had an nerve injury as the
cause. In many cases, fracture, or soft tissue injury was the
trigger for RSD and no definable nerve lesion could be found.
Based on Sudeck's exaggerated inflammatory response theory, the
signs and symptoms of inflammation and acute RSD have similarities:
"rubor (redness), calor (warmth), dolor (pain), tumor (swelling)
and functio laesa (limited function)". Based on Sudeck's
theory Dr. Veldman, Dr
L van der Laan and numerous other Dutch doctors have done
extensive studies with RSD/CRPS patients in Holland. They hypothesize
that after an injury or surgery there is an exaggerated inflammatory
reaction process which be.g.ins in the body. Based on a 1993 study
of 829 patients over 8 years, Dr
Veldman found that the most common signs and symptoms of pain
(92%), swelling (86%), difference in skin temperature (98%), difference
in skin colour (97%), limited active range of motion (90%), increase
of complaints after exercise (89%) were inflammatory in nature.
There is evidence that free radicals are also involved in this
inflammatory process since they can damage tissue or membranes
in the body. Further evidence, is that free radical scavengers
like DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide),
N-Acetyl-cysteine,or IV Mannitol are used successfully in
treatment of early cases in Holland.
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