Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems and the Treatment of RSD
I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. Chronic pain is one of the pressing issues facing the healthcare system today. According to the American Pain Association, more people suffer from chronic pain than those who suffer from heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. Because of this, the treatment of chronic pain is a focus of the modern healthcare system. One of the diseases that can cause chronic pain is called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Those who have RSD struggle with chronic pain that comes from inflammation of the nerves. This disease can be caused by anything from a twisted ankle to a severe crush injury. There are several treatment options for those who have this disease, such as:
- Anti-inflammatory medications such as Tylenol and Motrin
- Narcotic and opioid medications for particularly severe cases
- Therapeutic Electronic Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy
- Surgical transection of the affected nerves
Even though there are several different treatment options, many people still struggle with chronic pain on a daily basis. The impact of this pain can cause people to have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, let alone go to school, work, or take care of their children. Because of this, individuals with this disease and their physicians should always be on the lookout for different treatment options. One such treatment option, called intrathecal drug delivery, was explored for individuals with RSD in a recent research study.
Intrathecal Drug Delivery as a Treatment Option for Chronic Pain
A research study was published in 2015 in the journal of Neuromodulation that explored the role of intrathecal injections for chronic pain treatment, including RSD. For those who may not know, an intrathecal medication is one that is administered through the spine. Because the spinal cord plays a major role in motor and sensory function, the thought is that medications administered via the spine may be effective in treating pain. In the study, individuals who received intrathecal medication were compared with those who did not. Individuals who received intrathecal medication attended follow-up visits every six months for 36 months total. By 36 months, those receiving intrathecal medication injections showed significant improvement in their activity, mood, sleep, and quality of life. This study serves to highlight the potential benefit of intrathecal medications in the treatment of RSD. Furthermore, those who receive intrathecal medications may experience fewer side effects than those taking oral opioid medications. This can lead to a significant improvement in someone’s quality of life.
Role of a Legal Adviser in RSD
In addition to medical treatment, it is important for people with RSD to consider meeting with an experienced legal professional. For the many families who struggle with RSD following a traumatic accident, it is important to have the circumstances of the injury investigated. Furthermore, families may have trouble dealing with the ancillary issues that arise with an RSD diagnosis. This could include getting medical treatment covered, filing for disability and simply filling out the mountain of paperwork. For help with these issues, consider meeting with an RSD lawyer in California. If you decide to go with my team and me, I promise to work as hard as I can to represent your family and your interests. Please, contact me today with any questions or concerns. I would be honored to represent you.
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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.
Everyone is invited to look at my sample results here.
Image Citation: 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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