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Signs of the 4th Stage of RSD

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also known as complex regional pain syndrome, is a neurological disorder that typically progresses in four stages. There is no cure for the disease, but there are treatments for managing the symptoms, which vary depending on the stage of the disease. If you believe you suffer from RSD, you should see a physician as soon as possible for advice and treatment.

  1. Causes

    • RSD can be caused by a variety of different things. Patients have developed the disease after suffering broken bones, complications from surgery, nerve damage, heart attack, or even from having limbs set in a cast for long periods of time. In some cases a cause cannot be identified.

    Symptoms

    • The most characteristic symptom of RSD is severe pain in response to stimuli that should only generate mild pain. Typical treatments often won't work for pain caused by RSD. Other general symptoms include: blotchy red or purple skin color, burning sensations around joints, and swelling and stiffness in joints. Many other symptoms will vary depending on the stage of the disease. Stage one of RSD typically lasts one to three months. Stage two can last for between three and six months. Stages three and four can last indefinitely. While many of the early-stage effects are manageable with treatment, the effects from stages three and four are more difficult to manage, and are irreversible in many cases.

    Fourth Stage Symptoms

    • The primary sign of the fourth stage is when the disease starts affecting internal organs. Ulcer-like skin lesions start appearing on the affected areas of the body. Many treatments that are effective in earlier stages of the disease become substantially less effective in this stage. Gangrene may form in the affected areas due to reduced circulation. The fourth stage of RSD may last an unlimited amount of time.

    Fourth Stage Controversey

    • There is some disagreement on whether the fourth stage of RSD even exists. The problem with diagnosing a particular stage of the disease is that every person progresses differently, and may experience symptoms from other stages, and may not exhibit all the symptoms of the disease. The progression and specific causes for the disease are still not completely understood, and, since many patients never make it to the fourth stage, it is a difficult stage to diagnose and study.

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