Emotional Issues Related to RSD

Posted on June 25, 2018 by admin

Emotional Issues Related to RSD

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), commonly referred to as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), is a very complex disease that is often overlooked by the mental health community. Many don’t realize that this is a devastating disease. It impacts millions of people all over the world. The disease is often triggered by a traumatic event that can range in severity from the smallest scratch to the largest of car accidents. This trauma damages the nerves in an area of a person’s body and causes the nerves to misfire. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, most notably chronic pain, that can be difficult for someone with RSD to manage. According to studies published in the PubMed database:

RSD can impact anyone from elementary school children all the way into adulthood
The most common age for people to be diagnosed with RSD is around 30 years old
The number of people living with RSD in the United States has been estimated to be between 1.5 and 6 million
RSD is more common in women than in men

The medical issues related to RSD such as the chronic pain, changes in nail growth, and issues related to hair texture can be debilitating; however, the mental health problems are not to be overlooked. These can be just as challenging for individuals to manage and can impact their families as well.

Mental Health Issues and RSD

Because of the chronic pain that people with RSD have to manage, their quality of life can be significantly decreased. This comes from the inability to go to work, attend school, and provide for their family. Furthermore, individuals with RSD may even feel like they are a burden on their family. According to a recent study of individuals dealing with RSD published in Investigative Psychiatry:

People with RSD attempt suicide at a rate that is significantly higher than the general population
Of people with RSD, about 30 percent of individuals have thoughts of committing suicide
Around 10 percent of these individuals have attempted to commit suicide
The vast majority of individuals with RSD have symptoms of depression

These numbers are heartbreaking and should clearly demonstrate that living with RSD can cause a variety of mental health issues. These emotional problems can significantly impact the individual and their loved ones, which is why seeking professional care is important.

Seeking Professional Care

There is a significant shortage of mental health professionals in this country; however, individuals with RSD should see their primary care provider for a referral to a mental health professional. Even if it seems as though they feel “fine,” it can still be beneficial. It can help blunt some of the quality of life issues related to RSD and may be able to prevent the development of depressive symptoms. A mental health professional has both medication and non-medication therapies that can prove helpful in the management of a chronic disease. The most effective way to manage mental health disorders is to prevent them from taking root in the first place. A trained medical provider can help make this a reality.

Help from a Legal Professional

The emotional issues related to RSD are not to be overlooked. It can lead to mental health issues in not only the affected individual but also their family and friends. These rifts can make it hard to keep a household functioning and damage relationships with loved ones. For help in times such as these, meeting with a seasoned RSD lawyer in Sacramento can be helpful. You may have trouble figuring out how to find the lawyer that is right for you. This is normal. The most important thing to remember is that you should find a lawyer who understands your problems, your needs, and can effectively place you in the right position to be successful. Please, call me today if you would like to learn more.

reach out to an Experienced RSD Attorney in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. If you have been injured due to another person’s negligence and that injury resulted in RSD, please give me a call at (916) 382-0693. I would be happy to share free, friendly legal advice.

Check out my sample results here. This will give you an idea about some of the outcomes I have obtained for my past clients.

Pixabay first put up the original image found at the start of this page. The CC0 Creative Commons License has granted permission to reproduce it here.

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Can a Bone Scan Help Diagnose RSD?

Posted on June 22, 2018 by admin

Can a Bone Scan Help Diagnose RSD?

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD attorney in Sacramento. There are a lot of different tests that doctors can order that might help to diagnose a serious illness. In addition to routine laboratory work such as blood tests, doctors can also order imaging to get a better idea of what is happening inside of someone’s body. Examples of common imaging procedures that might be ordered include x-rays, MRI scans, and CT scans; however, a lesser known test is called a bone scan. For those who don’t know, a bone scan can be used to diagnose both common and rare diseases that might impact the nerves, tendons, ligaments, or bones. The steps of a bone scan include:

A tracer is injected into the limb of the patient. This tracer has been labeled with an isotope that will light up on the image.
Images are taken following the tracer injection. Some of the images are taken immediately while other pictures are taken a couple hours after the tracer is injected.
Additional images could be taken, such as SPECT images, which stands for single-photon emission computerized tomography. This is used if images of the deep bones are required.
The camera may rotate as the pictures are taken.
Once the pictures are done, the doctor will review the results with the patient.

Bone scans can be used to help in the diagnosis of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

What are some of the signs that a doctor may look for on a bone scan that supports a diagnosis of RSD?

A Bone Scan Can Help Diagnose RSD

A bone scan is a common imaging procedure that physicians will use to support a diagnosis of RSD. It is important to note that this test alone cannot confirm or refute a diagnosis of RSD; it must always be used in conjunction with a clinical history and physical exam. Depending on the stage of RSD, the bone scan could show different findings. In patients with RSD, a bone scan may show a significant amount of bone loss of vasoconstriction that could be occurring due to RSD. This means that patients with RSD who do not have any bone loss (such as those in stage 1) may have a normal bone scan. Because of this, it is vital for physicians to use other modalities in addition to a bone scan to make a diagnosis of RSD. While a bone scan can help a physician make a diagnosis, it should never be used alone.

Help From a Legal Professional

If someone has received a diagnosis of RSD, it has the potential to completely change their life. People with RSD can have problems with:

Going to work
Doing chores around the house
Driving a car
Attending school
Running errands

These issues can affect the life of not only the individual but also their entire family. This can create a lot of stress that families could have trouble dealing with. During these instances, it can be helpful to meet with an RSD attorney in Sacramento. I hope you and your family decide to work with my team; however, everyone deserves to work with a caring attorney who places the family’s interests first. While I cannot promise or guarantee any results, I can promise that we will work tirelessly on your behalf.

Related Articles

Contact an Experienced RSD Attorney in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Attorney in Sacramento. If someone you know has developed Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, feel free to contact me at (916) 382-0693. I am willing to share friendly, free legal advice.

Feel free to look at my sample results here.

The top image was found on Pixabay. It is used here under the CC0 Creative Commons License.

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What are the Important Skin Symptoms of RSD?

Posted on June 20, 2018 by admin

What are the Important Skin Symptoms of RSD?

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD attorney in Sacramento. Those who live with chronic pain understand just how serious this can be. When someone has been diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), this is often a life-changing experience. Some of the symptoms that people might experience include:

Severe burning or shock-like pain in one of their arms or legs
Loss of dexterity and mobility in their fingers or toes
Severe joint stiffness that makes it hard to walk or run
Swelling of the hands, feet, arms, or legs

It is easy to see how these symptoms can prevent someone from going to work or attending school. While these symptoms are significant, there are also some other issues that people should look after. These might clue somebody in that they could be suffering from RSD. In addition to the symptoms discussed above, RSD can also be present with skin, hair, and nail symptoms that could cause their own quality of life issues. It is important for individuals suffering from RSD and their families to understand the entirety of the picture that Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy can create.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Skin Symptoms

Because RSD can cause such severe pain in the arms, legs, hands, or feet, it is easy to focus on these issues; however, the skin symptoms that accompany Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy can be just as severe. According to published research, up to 5 percent of patients can develop skin symptoms with RSD. Some of the issues that people may notice include:

Darker Skin: The skin covering the affected area tends to turn dark when people have RSD for an extended period of time. Because people do not use the affected limb as much, the outer layers of the skin do not wear off like they usually do. Furthermore, the pain often prevents people from taking care of this area of skin properly. When the skin doesn’t peel, it tends to turn dark. Washing the area or placing a simple cream on it could solve this discoloration.

Nail Growth: Many individuals with RSD notice that their nails may grow more quickly. They could appear hard and brittle. Other people have reported that the nails become more curved. Medical professionals sometimes call these nails “hourglass nails” and many patients do not like to cut their nails because of the intense pain. Some patients have found nail files to be effective. It is important to try and trim these nails to prevent them from becoming ingrown.

Brittle Skin: Because the tissue in the affected area tends to atrophy, the skin becomes brittle. It often bruises easily and could appear like eczema. In severe cases, ulcers of the skin may start to appear. It is important to seek medical care for these ulcers as quickly as possible. Ulcers in these areas of skin tend to heal slowly and could become infected.

Lymphedema: The swelling that individuals with RSD notice could be due to blockage of the lymphatic systems. If this starts to compress the arteries and veins, blood clots could begin to form. Medical professionals often start compression stockings to keep the fluid mobile and prevent this from happening; however, because of the excruciating pain, this usually is not possible. Therefore, people are often asked to take medications to keep their blood flowing. In severe cases, a sympathetic nerve block could be suggested as well.

Help is Available

For families struggling with RSD, help is available. A trained RSD attorney in Sacramento can help a family review all of the legal options available to them.

Related Articles by Ed Smith

Contact an Experienced RSD Attorney in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. If you believe you have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, please reach out to me at (916) 382-0693 for free, friendly legal advice.

Feel free to look through our sample results here.

The image at the top, found at Pixabay, has been hosted here under the CC0 License.

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Electrical Nerve Stimulation for RSD

Posted on June 19, 2018 by admin

Electrical Nerve Stimulation for RSD

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. One of the most pressing issues facing healthcare today is the number of people living with chronic pain. For those who don’t know, chronic pain is a long-term feeling of discomfort that will not go away. According to statistics from the American Academy of Pain Medicine, more people are living with chronic pain than there are living with diabetes, cancer, and heart disease put together. There are many reasons why someone may have chronic pain, and one of these is from a disease called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Some of the symptoms and signs of RSD that people may manifest include:

Skin that is excessively dry, cracked, or wrinkled
Feelings of numbness or tingling in the affected limb
Nails that become brittle, damaged, or even change in color
Difficulty moving, flexing or extending the muscles
Intense, burning, shooting pain in the affected limb

It is this chronic pain that often makes RSD too painful to bear. There are several treatments that one may use to try and manage the pain. Some people see a massage therapist regularly while other people may elect to try pain medication. Others may even turn to regular nerve blocks to try and blunt the discomfort. One of the treatments that people can also try is called electrical nerve stimulation.

Treatment of RSD with Electrical Nerve Stimulation

RSD can lead to many complications; however, the most common is the development of chronic pain. This pain comes from the continued misfiring of nerves in the affected limb. Nerves carry motor signals from the brain to the limb and sensory signals in the opposite direction. These sensory signals help the brain interpret pressure, temperature, and pain. When these nerves misfire, the brain interprets these signals as pain, leading to the discomfort that people feel. For this reason, treatment of pain related to RSD has centered around the nerves. One of the treatments that have shown promise is electrical nerve stimulation. By using electrical nerve stimulation, the nerves are essentially overloaded with electricity. The brain has trouble interpreting the overload in the nerves and fails to perceive the overload as pain. This can provide symptom relief for individuals who have struggled to manage their pain with other types of therapy. The treatment is called Therapeutic Electrical Nerve Stimulation, or TENS, and people with RSD should ask their doctor if TENS treatment is right for them.

Help from a Sacramento RSD lawyer

Many ancillary issues could arise when someone struggles with RSD. People may need to get at home health professionals to help them manage their disease. Others may have symptoms so severe that they need to miss an extended amount of time from work. Health insurance companies may hesitate to cover the cost of medical care related to RSD. In times of stress, meeting with an RSD lawyer in Sacramento can be helpful. A trained legal adviser can help a family assess all of their options and decide on the most appropriate course of action. Please contact us today with any questions; we would be happy to help.

Contact an Experienced RSD Attorney in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. If someone you know is looking for additional treatment options for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, please call me at (916) 382-0693. I am available to provide friendly, free legal advice.

Check out my sample results here.

Pixabay hosted the photograph at the start of this page. The CC0 Creative Commons License has yielded permission to show it here.

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Treatment of an RSD Pain Flare

Posted on June 18, 2018 by admin

Treatment of an RSD Pain Flare

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. There are many chronic diseases and conditions and most are never mentioned, let alone discussed and researched. One such example is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). For those who may not know, this is a syndrome that impacts the nerves that feed on one or more parts of the body. For those who have this condition, these nerves become inflamed. This leads to chronic pain that can become intractable. According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine:

There are millions of people living with RSD in the United States
The most common symptom of this disorder is chronic pain
Chronic pain impacts more people in this country than cancer, heart disease, or diabetes
The average age of a diagnosis of RSD is 40
This disease impacts women at three times the rate of men

While chronic pain is the most common symptom of RSD, there are others that people might experience. Examples include difficulty with mobility, loss of sleep, issues with the appearance and texture of the hair and nails along the impacted limb, and other sensory issues. Occasionally, the symptoms of RSD could get worse for a period of time. This can be extremely debilitating for someone who already deals with chronic pain. This is called a pain flare. It is important for not only those afflicted with the disease but also their friends and family to know how to treat a pain flare when it arises.

Treatment of an RSD Pain Flare

An RSD pain flare is a period during which the pain related to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy becomes significantly worse. For someone who already deals with severe, daily pain, this flare can become almost unmanageable. Several strategies can be used to manage a pain flare. These include:

Deep Breathing: People experiencing a pain flare should start by using some deep breathing. This can help relax the body and give the nerves a chance to calm down.

Massage: Massages have also been used to help people who are struggling with a pain flare. Targeted relaxation of the affected limb can prove useful in times of severe pain.

Medication: When the top two suggestions don’t work, many people with RSD reach for their “as-needed” pain medication. While some people are reluctant to use such strong medicine, this is an appropriate time to consider it.

Nerve Stimulation: For people with pain flares that occur often, electrical nerve stimulation can be helpful. This can help “reset” the nerves and calm the pain related to a flare.

a Personal Injury Lawyer May be able to help

When pain flares prohibit someone from working, attending school, or helping around the house, it may make it difficult for a family to make ends meet. When this happens, meeting with an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento can be helpful. If you have suffered this injury as a result of an accident due to the negligence of someone else, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Contact an Experienced RSD Attorney in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. If you or someone you know struggles with pain flares from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, please call me at (916) 382-0693.

Take a moment to look at my sample results here.

Pixabay hosted the image at the start of this page. The CC0 Creative Commons License has granted permission to show it here.

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Suicidal Ideation in RSD Patients

Posted on June 10, 2018 by admin

Suicidal Ideation in RSD Patients

Over the past few years, mental health has become a significant focus of modern society and its healthcare system. This has been driven by a campaign to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, psychiatric conditions, and addiction while increasing the resources that are available to those who suffer from these horrible diseases. The recent number of celebrity deaths by suicide has led to an increased awareness of the symptoms that these individuals must have experienced. For those who suffer from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), mental health is a real issue. According to a research paper which was recently published in Investigative Psychiatry, some of the statistics related to chronic pain and suicidal ideation include:

About a third of individuals who suffer from chronic pain have suicidal thoughts at some point in their life
Around one out of every five people who suffer from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) contemplate suicide
Between 5 and 10 percent of those who suffer from this disease will attempt suicide at some point in their life

These statistics highlight just how serious this disease can be. Because of the severity of the symptoms related to RSD, people need to know about the risk factors related to suicidal ideation in people with RSD.

Risk Factors for Suicidal Ideation in Patients with RSD

Mental health issues are some of the most significant complications of RSD. A recent research study was conducted to analyze a group of individuals who had been diagnosed with RSD. The hope was that risk factors related to suicidal ideation could be identified. The average age of the individuals in the study was 36. About 80 percent of them were diagnosed with RSD type 1. The risk factors related to suicidal ideation, based on the study, are:

Loss of ability to engage in activities they used to find joy in
A loss of appetite
Difficulty sleeping at night
Social isolation
A feeling of a lack of support from those around them

These results should show everyone just how important it is to rely on family and friends for help. It can prevent suicidal thoughts from setting in.

Professional Mental Health Counseling

With these results in mind, it is vital for anyone who is having thoughts of suicide to seek help from a mental health professional. Meeting with a psychiatrist can help those with mental health problems figure out why they feel this way and manage their thoughts and emotions. For individuals with RSD, meeting with a counselor is a good idea even if people feel okay. It might prevent mental health problems from developing.

Help From A Legal professional

When someone has been diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, they could be feeling despair. They might be looking for help managing the many stressful issues that come up with this syndrome. Families who are looking for help should meet with an experienced RSD Lawyer in Sacramento if the negligence of someone else caused their injury. Speaking with a legal professional can help a family assess all of the options that are available to them.

Related Articles by Ed Smith

Contact an Experienced Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Attorney in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. If you or a family member has developed this painful condition, please give me a call at 916-382-0693 for free, friendly advice.

See our sample results here.

Image Citation: The picture from the start of this page can be seen on Pixabay. The CC0 Creative Commons License has allowed its reproduction here.

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RSD and the Family Impact

Posted on June 6, 2018 by admin

RSD and the Family Impact

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. Living with chronic pain can be an overwhelming ordeal. Pain impacts people at their core and can create a significant amount of emotional distress. For people living with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), they do not have to wonder what this is like. People living with this disease have a problem with the nerves that impact one of their limbs. These nerves misfire and these signals get crossed. The brain interprets these signals as pain. This pain can create a number of emotional issues. According to multiple studies published in the PubMed database:

RSD is one of the most painful diseases, with patients reporting pain scores on the McGill scale that average a 42 out of a possible 50 points
Studies have estimated that people living with RSD almost universally experience symptoms of depression
Various studies have reported that between 20 and 40 percent of people living with RSD have thought about suicide
About 10 percent of individuals living with RSD have attempted suicide

It is easy to see how devastating RSD can be for an individual. One of the issues related to the pain from RSD is the impact that this disease has on someone’s family members as well. When a loved one has RSD, it can be difficult to see them in such severe pain. They could be unable to return to school, work, or help with chores around the house. Because of this, it is important to explore the impact that RSD can have on someone’s family.

RSD: An Impact on the Family

Chronic diseases such as RSD can have a tremendous impact on the family. Because the symptoms include chronic pain, the visual of this disease can be jarring. Important ways that this disease can impact a family’s quality of life include:

The individual could be forced to give up any form of gainful employment because of the disease
The individual may be unable to give up activities that they previously found joy in
Someone with RSD may be unable to mow the lawn, do laundry, cook, or clean

It is easy to see how this disease can create problems for a family. The ultimate result of this could be both financial and social strain. Because of these problems, it is important for families to anticipate the psychological stress and act preventatively. Some of the strategies that a family may find helpful include:

Do not allow RSD to dominate the conversation in the household. Try to focus on the positives.
Quickly figure out which distraction techniques help to take an individual’s mind off of the pain.
Figure out what sorts of triggers lead to an RSD pain flare and act to avoid them.
Meet with a counselor or mental health professional regularly, as a family, to prevent the development of emotional or mental health issues.

Remember, the treatment of RSD is a family effort, and everyone should be involved in the management of this syndrome.

A Legal Professional can Help

The impact that Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) can have on a family should not be overlooked. Managing this serious disease is a team effort. Between work, school, and chores around the house, the family will feel the impact of having a loved one with RSD. It is natural to feel stressed and to look for support elsewhere. Because of this, meeting with a caring and compassionate RSD Lawyer in Sacramento can be helpful. Some families may be wondering how they are supposed to select a lawyer and could be tempted by the ads on TV that promise glorious results. It is important to note that nobody can truly promise any certain verdict or settlement; however, I can promise that if you decide to work with me, I will place your interests ahead of my own. While I do hope that you choose me to represent you and your family, it is important for you to find a lawyer who understands your needs. Please, call today with any concerns.

Related Articles by Ed Smith

Contact an Experienced RSD Attorney in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. If you or a family member has developed this painful condition, please give me a call at 916-382-0693 for free, friendly advice.

See our sample results here.

The picture from the top of this page can be found on Pixabay. The CC0 Creative Commons License has allowed its reproduction here.

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