There is often swelling, skin rashes/blistering, stiffness of joints, uncomfortable temperature changes of the affected area, extreme sensitivity whereby even slight touch means unbearable added pain, nausea, vomiting, lack of sleep, inability to concentrate or remember and a sense of confusion. This is on top of the intense pain. Patients will describe the pain as: burning, hot, stabbing, shooting - others will describe the feelings as aching, tightness, numbness, and tingling sensations.

The pain that is felt with RSD, when measured on the McGill Pain Scale, scores a massive 38 points, to realise how painful this is, a broken limb scores 14, labour pain scores 22 and the pain from terminal cancer scores 26. One of the main problems with pain from RSD is that it cannot usually be successfully controlled - i.e., even taking medications such as morphine does NOT usually help pain control.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is a multi-symptom, multi-system syndrome usually affecting one or more extremities, but may affect any part of the body. It is a disabling disease with simultaneous involvement of nerve, skin, muscle, blood vessels and bone. The only common denominator in all patients is pain. All other Symptoms or changes may or may not occur.

Although this type of Dystrophy has been documented for over 125 years it is still misdiagnosed, untreated and blamed on a person's psychological state. Doctors are still uneducated in recognising the 'danger signs' and organising quick, appropriate treatment for the patient. Quick diagnosis and prompt treatment is very effective, and
although this doesn't guarantee success it gives a huge increase in the improvement and remission rates meaning that the person can carry on a normal life without the pain or disability.

Far too many people are suffering from long-term, probably lifetime effects, disability and pain from RSD when with a bit more awareness the medical profession could save most of these people from lasting effects of this condition. The symptoms are severe, so that in itself should make it easier to diagnose, but doctors STILL miss the signs almost every time.
Catherine Taylor - Co-ordinator of RSD UK Group and www.rsd-crps.co.uk