Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) is considered a rare disease, one that causes severe pain that's chronic. In other words, it lasts for a long time and cannot be cured. Also called chronic regional pain syndrome, the condition attacks your sympathetic nervous system.
The sympathetic nervous system is part of your autonomic nervous system that drives your heart rate, blood vessel constriction and elevating blood pressure. It's an involuntary process that, when affected by chronic regional pain syndrome, leads to the pain for which you need reflex sympathetic dystrophy treatment. Your pain management team at the Sports and Pain Institute of NY provides targeted, individualized sympathetic reflex dystrophy treatment in Midtown Manhattan, NY.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy NYC — SPIN Sports Pain Specialists
Ready to treat your reflex sympathetic dystrophy?
Same-day appointments available.
Symptoms That Lead to Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome Treatment
RSDS often is confused with other painful conditions, most notably pinched nerves, sciatica and other nerve disorders. Sometimes, the skin surrounding the source of your pain turns red and swollen, leading some to think they have knee tendonitis or a labral tear.
Arm and shoulder pain or leg pain localized in a knee or hip are the most common places where RSDS shows up. The primary symptom of RSDS is burning accompanied by:
- Pain in one or more fingers
- Pain in the palm of your hand
- Skin over the pain that becomes cold sensitive, heat sensitive or sensitive to the touch
- Affected limbs that tend to perspire
- Stiffness
- Weakness in the affected limbs
Very often, the pain intensifies over three to six months from when you first notice it. While the first inkling of RSDS can appear following a traumatic injury, the pain moves slowly and radiates to other parts of your body. And it becomes more severe as time goes on. Your range of motion gets restricted and your skin may become mottled or pitted around the pain point. Your skin can even turn blue when blood flow is restricted.
Seek Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Treatment in Midtown Manhattan, NY
Before he can develop a customized sympathetic reflex dystrophy treatment plan, your NYC physician needs to conduct a thorough medical history. Prepare to provide details about the severity of your pain, when it first started and what makes it feel worse or better. Include information about previous injuries or traumas because, even though there is no known cause for RSDS, most people who develop the disease have had one or more of the following incidences:
- Radiation therapy
- A bad fall or accident while playing contact sports
- Severe burns
- Long-lasting infection
- Paralysis on one side of the body
- A heart attack
- Spine disorders such as osteoarthritis of the spine
Anyone at any age can develop RSDS, but it tends to occur more frequently in women between the ages of 40 and 60. Tests such as x-rays, readings of your skin temperature, bone scans and thermographic studies help your New York pain management doctor develop a chronic regional pain syndrome treatment plan. One of the most definitive tests to diagnose RSDS is a sympathetic block. A positive response to the nerve block tells your doctor that you most likely have RSDS.
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Treatment Options
There is no one definitive sympathetic reflex dystrophy treatment that works for everyone. If you begin treatment as soon as symptoms appear, however, you have a better chance of preventing the progression of the painful disease.
The most common forms of chronic regional pain syndrome treatment designed to reduce your discomfort and keep you mobile include:
Physical therapy performed daily
Warm baths in paraffin wax
Splinting to prevent muscle spasms
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS)
Muscle relaxers
Anti-inflammatory medications
Nerve block and trigger point injections often provide you with substantial relief from the pain. Side effects are rare when you receive low-dose injections as a chronic regional pain syndrome treatment. The side effects that do appear include:
Visit a Specialist for Effective Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Treatment
Because of the rarity of the disease and the many different causes and symptoms, you need to trust your Midtown Manhattan pain management doctor to diagnose your condition and provide the right kind of chronic regional pain syndrome treatment available.
RSDS mimics
so many other conditions that your physician may try a variety of tests and treatments to come to a definitive conclusion. Some of the disorders related to RSDS include:
Ready to find relief from reflex sympathetic dystrophy?
Dr. Melepura's Midtown Manhattan clinic offers same-day appointments for evaluation and treatment.
Real Stories from our Patients
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura — Your Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to reflex sympathetic dystrophy is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
Ready to Book an Appointment?
Same-day appointments available. Call (212) 621-7746 or book online.
What Our Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Patients Say
"Able to make an appointment to see Dr. Melepura on short notice… attentive to my concerns… Jazmin was also very kind and helpful."
"Excellent hospitality, listener and explainer… highly recommend the doctor and the place."
"Dr. Melepura is the best! He worked with me to find the optimal solution to my shoulder pain while I was preparing for a fight!"
"Lovely, bright and modern… doctor and staff were kind… felt my concerns were heard."
"Helpful and friendly staff who gladly follows up with you if and when needed. Dr Melepura was very helpful and professional as well as provided me with excellent information and feedback."
"Dr Febin is fantastic! Highly recommend him and his practice the Spin clinic. The doctor is a good listener, kind, attentive and gave me great advice. "
"Dr.Melepura was very efficient and interpersonal, felt like he was understanding the problems I was having and explained the processes to take to rehabilitate. I would recommend."
"I felt listened to and truly understood by Dr. Melepura. Started PT the very next day. They were very friendly and I didn't feel rushed at all. Already recommended them to my friends who have or continue to play through pain."