complex regional pain syndrome


dystrophy

 [dis´trah-fe] any disorder due to defective or faulty nutrition, especially muscular dystrophy. adj., adj dystroph´ic.adiposogenital dystrophy adiposity of the feminine type, genital hypoplasia, changes in secondary sex characters, and metabolic disturbances; seen with lesions of the hypothalamus; see also adiposogenital dystrophy.Becker's muscular dystrophy (Becker type muscular dystrophy) a form closely resembling Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, but having a later onset and milder course; transmitted as an X-linked recessive trait.distal muscular dystrophy distal myopathy.Duchenne's muscular dystrophy (Duchenne type muscular dystrophy) The childhood type of muscular dystrophy.facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy muscular dystrophy affecting the face, shoulder, and upper arm muscles; called also Landouzy-Dejerine muscular dystrophy.Landouzy-Dejerine dystrophy (Landouzy-Dejerine muscular dystrophy) facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.muscular dystrophy see muscular dystrophy.myotonic dystrophy a rare, slowly progressive, hereditary disease, marked by myotonia followed by muscular atrophy (especially of the face and neck), cataracts, hypogonadism, frontal balding, and cardiac disorders. Called also dystrophia myotonica, myotonia atrophica, and myotonia dystrophica.progressive muscular dystrophy muscular dystrophy.pseudohypertrophic muscular dystrophy muscular dystrophy affecting the shoulder and pelvic girdles, beginning in childhood and marked by increasing weakness, pseudohypertrophy of the muscles, followed by atrophy, and a peculiar swaying gait with the legs kept wide apart. Called also pseudohypertrophic muscular paralysis.reflex sympathetic dystrophy a syndrome of chronic pain that usually develops after a trauma or noxious stimulus, although the nerve injury cannot be immediately identified. The pain is not limited to the distribution of a single nerve and is often out of proportion to the precipitating event. It is most often described as a burning pain, and is accompanied by swelling, sweating, sensitivity to touch, and sometimes changes in tissue growth. Called also chronic or complex regional pain syndrome. Clinical practice guidelines have been published by the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association of America and are available on their web site at http://www.rsds.org or by writing to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association of America, P.O. Box 502, Milford CT 06460.

reflex sympathetic dystrophy

Neurology
Persistent pain of an extremity after prolonged autonomic nervous system stimulation.
 
Clinical findings
Dysaesthesia, pain, swelling of an extremity with trophic skin changes, hypertrichosis, osteoporosis.
 
Aetiology
Acute MI, cervical osteoporosis, CVAs, nerve injury, neurologic events, surgery, trauma.
Management
Sympathetic block with local anaesthetics.
 
Sports medicine
An exaggerated response of the sympathetic nervous system to minor trauma, especially if superimposed on healing injuries.
 
Clinical findings
Severe, recurrent, chronic pain, affecting an entire extremity; swelling, stiffness and discolouration.
Pathogenesis
Uncertain, possibly mental stress.
 
Prognosis
Inactivity and inadequate therapy result in muscle atrophy, demineralisation and contractures.

complex regional pain syndrome

Reflex sympathic dystrophy Internal medicine A condition characterized by pain and tenderness associated with vasomotor instability, skin changes, and rapid development of bony demineralization–eg, osteoporosis often following localized trauma, stroke, or peripheral nerve injury Type CRPS Type 1–no definable nerve lesion; CRPS type 2, aka causalgia, nerve lesion is present

com·plex re·gion·al pain syn·drome

(CRPS) (kom'pleks rēj'ŭ-năl pān sin'drōm) Diffuse persistent pain, usually in a limb, often associated with vasomotor disturbances, trophic changes, and limitation or immobility of joints; may follow local injury.

Patient discussion about complex regional pain syndrome

Q. I have an injury called CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) I desparately need help. Had 4 surgeries-no help The pain is excruciating every second, in my left hand and arm,with no relief. I don't know where to go next or what to pursue. I've tried every pain med there is and steroidal injections and nerve stimulator implant in back, but nothing has worked. Can't believe the pain- keeps me up at night and is a killer every other second of the day. Can anyone help??? Any suggestions I may not have tried??? I am desparate for some relief. Thanks JoeA. It really sounds like you are suffering a great deal. Have you seen a pain specialist? Have you ever tried any kinds of stronger pain medications such as narcotics? I am only suggesting them as your last option to handle pain because no one should suffer this high amount of pain. You should discuss this with you primary care physician. I would also suggest talking to someone about your level of stress, because all this pain can cause you anxiety and you may find it helpful to talk to a psychologist or psychiatrist, see if they can help with that. I don't have any suggestions about the neurological problem because it sounds like you have tried everything there is to offer.

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