What are the Treatment Options For Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy?
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. Patients who suffer from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, also known as RSD, have likely heard about a variety of treatment options that can work. In the medical field, it is important to start conservatively. More drastic treatment options have greater risks and are only used if the conservative options fail to provide significant relief.
Conservative Treatment Options
First of all, after patients are involved in an auto accident or pedestrian accident, RSD may start to develop. Patients may have suffered bone fractures or other forms of extremity trauma that trigger the symptom development. Patients should try conservative treatments first, which include:
Moist Compresses: Many patients with RSD develop swelling and flushing of their extremities. Moist compresses can help to reduce the swelling and the flushing, which may help to bring pain relief as well. Cool compresses are recommended; however, ice packages applied to the skin for extended periods of time can damage the surface.
Exercise: Patients with RSD often complain of a loss of range of motion. They may have trouble extending their extremities fully. Exercise can help to maintain this range of motion and stop the symptom progression before the patient develops chronic pain.
Moderate Treatment Options
In addition, for patients with persistent comorbidities, there are medications that are available that might bring symptom relief. Examples include:
Prednisone: This is a corticosteroid that is typically used for a short period. This brings acute symptom relief; however, due to the side effects profile, this is rarely used chronically. The dose of this medication will be reduced gradually.
In addition, other medications include amitriptyline and pregabalin which work on different pain receptors to halt the progression of symptoms. Clonidine has also been used; however, this medication must be monitored closely as it can have drastic effects on the patient’s blood pressure.
Surgical Options
Finally, surgery also carries risks, even for treatment of RSD, and are generally used only when everything else has failed. There are a couple of options for patients with intractable RSD, which include:
Nerve Blocks: Usually tried before moving to the operating room, some patients find significant symptom relief with the injection of an anesthetic into the nerves causing the symptoms. If the nerves causing the patient’s pain are able to be identified, these nerves can be numbed using a nerve block. The nerve block will not last forever so patients will need a subsequent block when the pain returns.
Surgical Interruption: Lastly, for patients with severe RSD refractory to all other treatments, surgery can be used to cut the nerves and stop the pain. Patients would also lose any and all function that these nerves provide. This side effects must be weighed against the symptomatic benefit.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. There are multiple treatment options available for RSD. If you or a loved one is suffering from RSD, please contact me at (916) 921-6400 for friendly, free advice. Patients who are reaching out from outside of the local Sacramento area are welcome to use my toll-free number at (800) 404-5400.
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