The Role of Inflammation in Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
Among the possible reasons that someone may visit the doctor, chronic pain is extremely common. While there has been a significant focus on cancer, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, chronic pain is often overlooked or stigmatized. In reality, chronic pain can have a devastating impact on someone’s life, the lives of their family members and friends, and could even impact their mental health. According to some of the statistics which have been released by the National Center for Health Statistics, which ran a special feature on Chronic Pain in the United States:
- Of Americans who are over the age of 20, about a quarter of them reported that they have recently had pain that lasted for more than 24 hours in duration. This number does not include those who had severe pain that lasted for less than 24 hours.
- Those who were between the ages of 45 and 64 reported pain lasting more than 24 hours at the highest rate, with about a third of adults in this age group reporting chronic pain.
- About a quarter of individuals between the ages of 20 and 44 reported similar pain.
- 20 percent of senior citizens reported suffering from pain that lasted more than 24 hours.
These numbers indicate just how severe a problem chronic pain can be. There are lots of different causes of chronic pain, which could include a recurring medical problem, a serious injury, or a neurological disorder. One of the most severe reasons why someone may suffer from chronic pain is a disease called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Those who suffer from this disease have severe pain in one or more of their limbs that is typically triggered by a traumatic injury that leads to nerve damage. It is this nerve damage that leads to severe pain. This nerve damage often results from inflammation.
Inflammation and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
The pathology of RSD is complex and multifaceted; however, one of the important components is inflammation. When someone sustains a serious injury, the body responds to this injury with inflammation. During this inflammatory process, the body rushes immune cells to the site of the injury. This extra rush of fluid causes the tissue to swell, which can compress nerves. This compression can lead to a feeling of severe pain in the affected limb. Typically, this pain goes away when the injury heals; however, sometimes, this inflammation can persist. Occasionally, this inflammatory process can get sidetracked and start to attack the nerves in the injured limb. Examples of possible immune cells that might attack the nerves, based on medical studies, include IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF. While this alphabet soup may not mean much to the average person, studies have demonstrated that these cells of the immune system are produced at a higher rate in individuals with RSD than in those who do not have RSD. This is evidence that the inflammation from the immune system plays a critical role in the disease process. Perhaps targeting this inflammatory process can lead to symptomatic improvement in people who have RSD.
Help from a Legal Adviser
When someone suffers from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), there are lots of complications that might arise. These can include mental health issues (such as depression) which are related to the pain as well as possible missed time from school or work. These complications can impact the entire family. Therefore, it is a good idea to take the time to meet with a compassionate RSD attorney in Sacramento. You and your family might be entitled to financial compensation if your injury was caused by the negligence of someone else.
Related Articles by Ed Smith
Contact an Experienced RSD Attorney in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. If someone you know needs assistance with inflammation related to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, please call me at 916-382-0693. I am here to provide friendly, free legal advice.
Everyone is asked to look at my sample results here.
Image Citation: Pixabay produced the image at the start of this article. The CC0 Creative Commons License has granted permission to print it here.
:dr llo [cs 702]