Mirror Therapy for RSD

Among the various reasons that someone may visit their healthcare provider, chronic pain is the most common. Most people have felt the acute pain that comes with stubbing their toe or slamming their hand in a car door; however, chronic pain can be devastating. For those who live with chronic pain, they undoubtedly know how this can impact their lives. It can make it hard to think straight, keep emotions in check, and even interact with family and friends. According to a study that was recently published by the National Institute of Health and the American Pain Society:

• Almost 50 million people are living with chronic pain in the United States.
• About half of these individuals suffer from chronic pain on a daily basis.
• The same number rated their pain as “severe.”
• Based on the study, people who rate their pain as severe are likely to require disability services because of their pain.
• Despite this, many of these individuals still rated their overall health as “adequate.”

The results of this study show that, even though millions of people are suffering from chronic pain, they still believe that their health is fine. This is a sad reality, showing that many people may have simply gotten used to their pain. One of the diseases that cause chronic pain is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Those who live with this disease can deal with intractable pain on a daily basis. Because of this, it is vital to try and find other ways to help people who are living with chronic pain. This depends on a well-balanced treatment approach.

The Treatment Options of RSD

There are many different treatment choices for people who live with RSD. This disease can impact every facet of someone’s life, so the treatment strategy must depend on a well-rounded approach. This means:

• Medications: Examples of possible medications include anti-inflammatory pills (such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen) along with narcotic medications, such as Vicodin or Percocet.
• Nerve Injections: For those whose pain is not well-controlled with medications, nerve injections are also an option. In this treatment, a small dose of analgesic is injected directly into the problem nerve. This can provide effective pain relief.
• Emotional Support: Those who live with RSD are at a greater risk of suffering from mental health issues. Counseling is important to manage emotional distress.

Unfortunately, for many people, this isn’t enough. Now, there is a new treatment choice for those who are struggling with RSD.

Mirror Therapy can be Helpful

Recently, a study was published discussing the potential use of mirror therapy as a treatment for RSD. Mirror therapy first made headlines as a treatment choice for those who suffer from phantom limb pain following an amputation; however, this study showed that is can be effective for managing pain from RSD. The idea behind the treatment therapy is to retrain the mind. When people with RSD move their affected limb, the pain often gets worse. By placing a mirror next to the healthy limb, their mind can be trained to think that the impacted limb is moving without pain. In a sense, this creates a visual illusion that can help people ultimately move their affected limb pain-free. Follow-up studies have been published demonstrating the effectiveness of mirror therapy in treating RSD along with a number of other conditions. For those who may be looking for alternative treatment choices, mirror therapy could provide some relief.

In the end, RSD is a challenging disease to manage. For this reason, those with questions should meet with an experienced RSD attorney in Sacramento today.

Related Articles by Ed Smith

• Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome I and II
• Tests for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Contact an Experienced RSD Attorney in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. If someone you know has been having trouble treating a diagnosis of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, please call me at (916) 382-0693. I am available to provide friendly, free legal advice.

Everyone is asked to look at my sample results here.

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