The Role of Spinal Cord Stimulation in RSD
The Role of Spinal Cord Stimulation in RSD. People visit their doctor for all kinds of different illnesses, injuries, and disabilities; however, some of these are more common than others. While many people do not like to talk about chronic pain, it is one of the most common reasons why people visit their doctor. There are lots of different causes of chronic pain; however, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) is often overlooked. Some of the statistics on chronic pain that were recently published by The Good Body show that:
- There are more than 100 million Americans who suffer from chronic pain currently or did at some point in the past
- About 10 percent of Americans have had pain for three days or more in a row at some point
- Chronic pain is the most common reason why people file for disability benefits in the United States
Chronic pain is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. For people that have chronic pain from RSD, it is important to understand the different treatment options that are available. What are some of the reasons why people develop RSD?
An Overview: Why do People Suffer from RSD?
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) is a disorder of the nerves that typically follows a traumatic accident. The most common cause is a traumatic accident that sends the nerves into overdrive. The brain interprets these signals from the nerves as pain. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Excruciating pain isolated to one extremity
- Changes in the texture and temperature of the skin
- Alterations in the growth of the hair and nails
This pain has a severe impact on someone’s quality of life. Many times, people are diagnosed with RSD only after a battery of tests, treatments, and wrong diagnoses. What are some of the treatment options that are available?
What are the Current Treatment Options?
There are several different treatment options for people who have been diagnosed with RSD. Some of these include:
Medications: The first-line treatment option is typically a combination of anti-inflammatory medications such as Tylenol and Motrin with opioid medication as needed.
Nerve Injections: Sometimes, people with RSD also receive nerve injections. In this treatment, a dose of anesthetic is injected directly into the nerve that is causing problems.
Surgery: In severe situations, the nerves that are misfiring can be cut. This halts all signals between the brain and the nerve, so it also comes with serious side effects. It is important to discuss this with a trained medical professional before committing to this treatment.
Recently, a research paper was also published discussing spinal cord stimulation as a treatment option.
Spinal Cord Stimulation as a Treatment Choice
The spinal cord is a group of nerves that travels from the brain to the pelvis. It controls all motor and sensory signals for the chest, abdomen, and extremities. A group of researchers explored the possibility of using spinal cord stimulation as a way to treat people who suffer from severe pain, such as that from RSD. By stimulating the nerves with an electrical current, the mixed signals and misfiring of the nerves could be corrected. This has the potential to put a stop to the symptoms, potentially improving someone’s quality of life dramatically.
Trust a Trained Legal Adviser
When a loved one has been diagnosed with a serious chronic pain issue such as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, it is important for families to know where to turn to for help. There are lots of questions that loved ones often have, including:
- Why did this happen to someone that I love?
- Has the accident been investigated thoroughly?
- Could something have been done differently to prevent this serious accident and injury from occurring?
- What are these hospital bills going to be like? What if I cannot pay for them?
- Is my health insurance going to help cover the costs of these bills?
These are all valid questions, and families deserve to have help during their time of need. Because of this, please do not hesitate to reach out to an RSD attorney in Sacramento. Make sure that the accident has been examined closely by a legal professional because you might be deserving a financial reward.
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Contact an RSD Attorney in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith and I am an RSD Lawyer. There are alternative treatments available for RSD. Should you or a member of your family be interested in spinal cord stimulation for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, please give me a call at (916) 382-0693. I am happy to offer some free, friendly advice to families during their time of need.
I am listed in the California membership of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
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