What is RSD disease?

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Although we have already advanced treatments and interventions for many diseases and ailments, it is still hard for us to manage all the different type of health problems that we have these days. In fact, it is not only our technology that has improved or developed over the past years but as well some diseases that are still unknown to many people. One of the best examples of these is none other than the RSD disease. Because of this, a lot of us are now wondering, what is RSD diseases? Is this something that we could take on lightly or is this a type of illness that could potentially be fatal? For us to know the answers, then we must read on.

RSD disease basically stands for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome. This type of health problem affects the nervous system and can also cause severe pain. RSD is also known as the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which is a type of disorder that affects the SNS or the sympathetic nervous system. These SNS is the one that covers all the network of nerves that are positioned alongside the spinal cord, which controls the different functions in the body including the opening and closing of the blood vessels and as well as the sweat glands. Although this type of disease can attack anyone of any ages, ESD is found to be more prominent with women who are aged 50 years and above. However, according to some recent studies, RSD is now commonly seen also among young adults and adolescents.

What causes RSD? According to many experts, RSD is found out to be a common result to most injuries, especially those that are caused by high velocity impacts from bullets and shrapnel. However, some RSD can also result without any preceding and apparent injury. According to statistics, 30 % of the cases of RSD have unknown causes. Some minor accidents or injuries can also precipitate to this disease while others also develop this problem after undergoing major operations or surgeries. In other words, there is still no known cause for this type of disease, which is very unfortunate since we don’t have the means to prevent this particular health problem.

Some of the most common symptoms and characteristics of RSD varies depending on the stage or the level of its affectation to the body. However, one of the most common and is probably the indicative symptom is the continuous pain that worsen over time. Other symptoms include burning pain, increased skin sensitivity and changes in skin color (becomes blotchy with purple and red shades) as well as skin temperature (opposing temperature on opposite limbs or extremity) and texture (becomes shiny and thin and sometimes excessively sweaty). It can also change the nail and the hair patterns of the individual and can also cause swelling and stiffness of the joints. RSD also shows signs of motor disability with the difficulty in moving the affected body part.

Because this disease is still considered incurable, most of its interventions and managements bank on supportive care such as relieving pain and alleviating some of its symptoms. These are just some of the important facts about RSD that we must all be aware of.