What is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy?

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also known as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type I, is a complex, chronic pain syndrome that can affect any part of the body; however, it occurs most frequently in the extremities - hands, feet, arms, legs, shoulders or knees. It has been recognized by many doctors as a distinct clinical condition for over 100 years and has been known by various names including algodystrophy, Sudeck's atrophy, causalgia, and sympathetically-maintained pain.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy is characterized by:

• Severe, chronic pain often described as stinging or burning
• Sensory abnormalities such as allodynia (pain due to a stimulus which does not normally provoke pain) or hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to stimuli)
• Motor impairment such as weakness, tremor, stiffness, or decreased range of motion
• Edema (tissue swelling) and hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating)
• Progressive trophic changes to skin, hair, nails, muscle, and bone (such as thinning of bones or changes in how hair and nails grow)
• Increasing dysfunction of the affected limb

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy causes great suffering and distress in most patients. In addition to severe pain, which in some people remains chronic and unremitting, patients may also experience serious physical disabilities and reduction in their quality of life leading to:

• Depression
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Anger

Knowledge is Critical when Dealing with a Life-Altering Condition such as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with RSD, it's critical to learn everything you possibly can about this condition so that you can make informed decisions about your treatment. That's why we created the Medifocus Guidebook on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a comprehensive 154 page patient Guidebook that contains vital information about RSD that you won't find anywhere in a single source.

The Medifocus Guidebook on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy starts out with a detailed overview of the condition and quickly imparts fundamentally important information about RSD, including:

• The known underlying causes of RSD.
• The mechanisms responsible for the exaggerated pain response that people who develop RSD experience.
• The risk factors for developing RSD. The wide range of physical signs and symptoms that often accompany RSD including sensory, motor, trophic, and sudomotor changes.
• The psychological changes, such as fear, anxiety, and depression that people with RSD often experience.
• How RSD is diagnosed based on factors such as signs/symptoms, physical examination, special diagnostic tests, and sympathetic nerve blocks.

Understanding the Treatments...and the Treatment Options

Because currently there is no know cure for RSD, treatment is aimed at controlling and reducing the severity of the symptoms. Understanding the treatments - and the treatment options - is critical for not only controlling the symptoms but also for preserving the patient's overall level of functional ability and quality of life. As you read through the section of the Guidebook that focuses on the treatments for RSD, you will specifically learn about:

• The standard first-line medications that are usually the initial drugs of choice for the management of RSD pain.
• The alternative medications that may be prescribed for patients whose pain does not respond adequately to first-line medications.
• The common side-effects associated with specific medications that are used to control RSD pain.

• The treatment options that are available for the management of severe RSD pain that does not respond to pain medications, including interventional procedures such as:

  • Nerve blocks
  • Chemical and surgical sympathectomy
  • Spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation
  • Implantable spinal pumps

• Functional rehabilitation of the RSD-affected limb, which is a major goal of RSD treatment, using modalities such as:

  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Vocational therapy
  • Recreational therapy

• Managing the psychological aspects of RSD that can interfere with activities of daily living and diminish quality of life, using various strategies including:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Biofeedback
  • Relaxation therapy
  • Counseling and education

• Quality of life issues that many people with RSD must confront and learn how to deal with, including:

  • Performing activities of daily living
  • Employment issues, such as frequent absence from work
  • Social issues, such as missing family activities or not being able to participate in outings with friends
  • Personal issues, such as a diminished sex drive

• The prognosis (outlook) for people with RSD and the factors that can have a significant impact in predicting the overall chance of recovery.

• Important questions to ask your doctor about RSD.

A "One-of-a-Kind" Reference Guidebook on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy that Goes Way Beyond the Fundamentals

Since 1996, when Medifocus was founded, we've learned that many people with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy are seeking more specific information that goes beyond the fundamentals, such as the causes, diagnosis, standard treatments, and treatment options. That's why we developed a "one-of-a-kind" reference Guidebook that goes way beyond the basics and also includes the following sections:

• A Guide to Recent Medical Literature on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - This section of the Guidebook contains an extensive bibliography of over 100 references to recently published articles about Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in authoritative, peer-reviewed medical journals with links to the absracts (summaries) of the articles. These articles represent the latest advances in the field and focus on cutting-edge research, new developments, and the lessons learned from recently published studies involving patients with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. This is the same level of that is used by doctors who treat people with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy to keep abreast of the latest developments and breakthroughs in this specialized field of medicine.

• Centers of Research for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - We've compiled a unique directory of doctors, hospitals, medical centers, and research institutions with special interest and, in many cases, clinical expertise in managing people with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. The "Centers of Research" directory is a valuable resource for quickly identifying and locating leading medical authorities and medical institutions both within the United States and other countries who are considered to be at the forefront in clinical research and treatment of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. You'd have to spend days - or even weeks - attempting to compile your own list of doctors and medical centers but, with the "Centers of Research" directory, the information is already right at your fingertips. All you have to do is act on the information by selecting and contacting the experts or medical institutions listed in the directory by state and country.

• Organizations and Support Groups for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - The Guidebook also includes a directory of organizations and support groups whose goal is to help people with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy by providing access to information, resources, and services. Many of these organizations can answer your specific questions, enable you to "network" with other patients, and provide guidance in areas such as financial, social, or medical-legal issues. This valuable directory of organizations and support groups includes complete contact information, including phone numbers and E-mail addresses.

Look Inside the Guidebook

The Guidebook is a Value-Added Proposition that Comes with a Risk-Free Satisfaction Guarantee so that...You have Nothing to Lose and Everything to Gain

Still not sure if you'll benefit from the Medifocus Guidebook on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy? Still not convinced that the information included in the Guidebook is worth the minimal cost? If that's the case, then please consider the following value-added proposition that comes standard with your purchase of the Guidebook:

• Free Updates for One Year - Along with your initial purchase of the Guidebook, you also receive free updates for one-full year.

• 20% Discount - For a limited time, you can purchase the Medifocus Guidebook on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy at a special 20% discount off the regular list price. Your 20% discount will automatically be applied when you go to "Checkout".

• Risk-Free Satisfaction Guarantee - Your purchase comes with our RISK-FREE satisfaction guarantee. If, for whatever reason, you are not totally satisfied with the content of your Guidebook, simply contact us within 30-days of your purchase for a prompt, full refund. We are so confident that you will be satisfied with your Guidebook that we offer this RISK-FREE satisfaction guarantee unconditionally - no questions and no hassles.

Order Your Copy of the Medifocus Guidebook on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Today!

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