Definitions

  1. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome I: This is also called reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)and involves chronic pain, changes in skin color, increased or decreased sweating, immobility and osteoporosis of unknown cause, usually following a minor injury.
  2. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome II: This is also known as causalgia, which is due to partial injury to a nerve that then causes increased pain, vasomotor symptoms (constriction or dilation of the blood vessels) and osteoporosis.
  3. Osteoporosis: This is when the bone density decreases, causing fragile bones and a risk of bone fracture.
  4. Vasomotor symptoms: When there is an increase or decrease in blood flow to an area because of chemical changes or neurological changes in the body.
  5. Autonomic Nervous System: A part of the nervous system that consists of the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response) and the parasympathetic nervous system (calming to the body).
  6. Atrophy: When the muscles and tissues shrink and become thin.
  7. Allodynia: Pain that is out of proportion to the stimulus producing it, such as a light touch causing the sensation of severe pain.
  8. Sympathetically Maintained Pain: The idea that pain can be mediated by the sympathetic nervous system.

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