Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

  The nervous system is generally divided into two (2) major areas, voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary nerves coming directly out of the spinal cord supply parts of the body which a person may voluntarily contract or relax at will. Involuntary nerves supply those areas which a person usually cannot control by voluntary means, such as the heart rate, caliber of the blood vessels, size of the pupil in the eye and intestinal movement of food through the body.
      When injury to tissue occurs, whether by trauma or by surgery affected areas of the body can develop painful conditions which are difficult to manage and often may not respond to use of narcotic pain medications. Symptoms include intermittent shooting, burning type pain which can occur either with exposure to cold, light touch or even an emotional upset or change in the weather.
       Such conditions are described using a variety of names such as RSD or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Initial treatment may include medications which can minimize symptoms to some extent, though in general are not curative. Using opioid (narcotic) medications like Vicodin, Percocet, morphine and similar agents, while somewhat effective initially, do not address the main source of the pain and therefore promote rapidly increasing doses over time, never providing satisfactory relief. Ultimately many patients become depended and in some cases, addicted to these medications. If the physician prescribing these medications does not recognize the CRPS type condition, a dangerous spiral of multiple narcotic medications in inappropriate doses can rapidly get out of control, putting a patient at risk for other problems, including death from drug overdose.
      Physicians at Trinity Pain Medicine Associates have many years experience diagnosing and treating this condition.  If a patient presents with out-of-control narcotic medication use, a medically-supervised period of detoxification in one of the area centers equipped and trained for this therapy may be necessary prior to interventional therapies being able to be used safely. We are happy to evaluate in consultation this type chronic pain condition and recommend the appropriate course of treatment.

Ashley M. Classen, D.O, F.A.O.C.A.  &  E. Jo Bailey, M.D.
1401 Henderson Street  •  Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Phone 817.332.3664  •  Fax 817.334.0575