I was recently diagnosed with RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). Has anyone been diagnosed with this?

I was diagnosed with the RSD following Carpal Tunnel surgery to my left hand. I have never heard of this condition. I was referred to a Pain Clinic by the surgeon who performed the CT surgery. The MD at the Pain Clinic is wanting to do a Stellate Ganglion block.

Hi, There is nothing to worry about it. Plz go thru the below minute details about RSD. If needed about carpal tunnel surgery (CTS), plz get back to me at srinivas_actt@yahoo.com.

What is it? Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, also known as RSD, is a condition of burning pain, stiffness, swelling, and discoloration of the hand. RSD occurs from a disturbance in the sympathetic (unconscious) nervous system that controls the blood flow and sweat glands in the hand and arm. When the nervous system becomes overactive, burning pain is felt and swelling and warmth are left in the affected arm. If not treated, RSD can cause stiffness and loss of use of the affected part of the arm.

What causes it? In some cases, the cause of RSD is unknown. Often an injury can cause RSD, or the symptoms may appear after a surgery. Other causes include pressure on a nerve, infection, cancer, neck disorders, stroke, or heart attack. These conditions can cause pain, which sets off the sympathetic reflex causing RSD symptoms.

Signs and symptoms. The pain associated with reflex sympathetic dystrophy is often described as burning in nature. Swelling can cause painful joints and stiffness. RSD has three stages:
Stage I (acute) may last up to three months. During this stage the symptoms include pain and swelling, increased warmth in the affected part/limb, and excessive sweating. There may be faster-than-normal nail and hair growth and joint pain during movement of the affected area.
Stage II (dystrophic) can last three to 12 months. Swelling is more constant, skin wrinkles disappear, skin temperature becomes cooler, and fingernails become brittle. The pain is more widespread, stiffness increases, and the affected area becomes sensitive to touch.
Stage III (atrophic) occurs from one year on. The skin of the affected area is now pale, dry, tightly stretched, and shiny. The area is stiff, pain may decrease, and there is less hope of getting motion back.
Diagnosis. The diagnosis usually is made when at least three of the following symptoms are present: pain and tenderness, signs of changed blood flow (either increased or decreased), swelling with joint stiffness, or skin changes.

Treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment are important. Three forms of treatment may be combined: medication, physical therapy, and surgery. Medication taken by mouth can help decrease the symptoms. To reduce symptoms and provide long-term relief, local anesthetics may be injected into a nerve bundle at the base of the neck (stellate ganglion block).

I have a relative with this. You are in for a long road, but there are treatments that can ease the pain.

Yes, I had this diagnosed.

You can look at it two ways . . . one is that RSD is a "catch all" diagnosis when a doctor BOTCHES a surgery and doesn't want to admit it.

Of course you have PAIN from the sympathetic nervous system.

[The sympathetic nervous system is what allows your body to feel pain, get goose bumps, have your eyes water (tear up), allow your body to sweat when hot, etc. They are nerves in your body that send pain messages, and protective things -- like sweating when hot]

When the body has been injured, the pain message is sent to the brain, and the brain "feels" this. That's how you know something has happened to your body.

Think about it, if there was no message to the brain, you wouldn't know a car ran over your foot. You might "see" this happen, but nothing to the brain you wouldn't feel it.

The brain gets pain messages, etc. When the pain messages are NOT turned off, the brain doesn't know what's going on.

Part of feeling pain is to do something about it -- like putting your foot in a cast, allowing the healing process to begin.

When a doctor makes an "OOPS" then they are quick to say that RSD is the culprit.

Or, the second scenario is that the surgery caused the RSD --

At least, the surgeon had the good sense to refer you to the pain clinic.

In my case, the doctors all hide their head in the sand and said nothing was wrong. Although the affected area (knee) was swollen three time normal AND it was in a locked-knee joint position -- FOR THREE 1/2 YEARS!

I suffered tremendously because AFTER surgery I had problems.

Then I was diagnosed with RSD. Well, yeah . . . after 3 1/2 years of walking around on a bad knee . . .

Research all you can. Google RSD, Google Stellate Ganglion block -- I had Bier Blocks.

"There is nothing to worry about it." ....Quoted from the answer before me..... Yes, there is lots of things to worry about. Check on Yahoo, there's several good sites to read for information on RSD. And the quicker the better for your long term health and recovery. I developed all the classic symptoms approximately one month after fracturing my tibia plateau in a car accident. My orthopedic surgeon told me for about 2 months, "I'm sure the swelling and pain will go away soon". Finally I begged for tests to be done and the bone scans and mri's came back with the diagnosis. I started treatment at a Pain Clinic, Marcaine spinal blocks up to three times a week. The pain and swelling goes away a little bit for maybe a day or two. I also attend physical and hydrotherapy. My leg is quite deteriorated, I've lost bone and muscle mass as a result of waiting on the diagnosis and treatment. Then there's the other issues; depression because of the pain, the feeling of helplessness because I can't work or drive. I strongly suggest you listen to the doctor at the Pain Clinic. Good luck to you :)