What Is the Medical Term RSD?

RSD, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy, is a chronic neurological disease that results from trauma to the sympathetic nervous system. It often causes burning, chronic pain and discoloration or swelling of the skin.

Names

• RSD also is known as type I of complex regional pain syndrome.

Differences

• RSD differs from type II of complex regional pain syndrome because there is no clearly identifiable nerve damage. In type II, a distinct nerve injury has occurred.

Symptoms

• Burning or chronic pain in one or more limbs, discoloration or swelling of the skin and a limited range of motion are all symptoms that point toward RSD. A hypersensitivity to touch and muscle spasms have also been noted as symptoms.

Diagnosis

• When the level of pain cannot be accounted for by other conditions or diseases, doctors begin to suspect that the patient has RSD. There is currently no single laboratory test that can diagnose RSD.

Treatment

• Medications to control pain and muscle cramps can be administered. Physical therapy that involves range of motion exercises can also be given to help treat RSD. A sympathetic nerve block that targets the nerve or nerves responsible for causing pain can also be given if necessary, because it interrupts the transmission of pain from the affected nerve to the brain.

Stages

• There are four stages of RSD. These are dysfunction, dystrophy, atrophy and eventual failure of the immune system.