What Is RSD in the Foot?

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or RSD, in the foot is intense pain, usually occurring together with swelling, skin changes, and sensitivity. RSD is a progressive disease of the nervous system. RSD is also called complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS.

Causes

• RSD usually occurs as a result of an injury, including frostbite, burn, bruising, fractures or a simple cut, or from a serious wound such as a gunshot or stabbing, according to rheumatologist Nathan Wei. Other possible causes are surgery and conditions such as heart attack, stroke or cancer.

Diagnosis

• A doctor usually diagnoses RSD based on the symptoms: the initial injury, higher-than-expected pain from the injury, change in appearance of the foot, and absence of any other cause for the pain or changed appearance. Three-phase radionuclide scans also have been used to diagnose RSD, says the National Guideline Clearinghouse, a public resource for evidence-based clinical guidelines.

Treatment

• A variety of treatments are available for RSD: biofeedback, exercise, nerve blocks, physical therapy, TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), pain medications and surgery.

Considerations

• RSD has no known cure, but if treatment begins within three months of the first symptoms, it often goes into remission, according to Wei.

Caution

• If not treated, RSD can spread to other areas.