Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Causalgia Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Causes Burning Pain

Are you experiencing increasingly intense burning pain in your leg, arm, hand or foot? Is this pain taking place after an injury involving this limb? You might have complex regional pain syndrome.

Complex regional pain syndrome is a chronic health condition for which the pain of injury progressively gets worse, instead of better. This syndrome is broken into two types, reflex sympathetic dystrophy and causalgia. They generate similar symptoms, yet causation differs.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy produces after injury or illness burning limb pain that’s caused by minor nerve damage, i.e. blunt force, sprain or fall causing nerve contusion or bruising. Causalgia results in after injury burning pain that’s caused by major nerve damage, i.e. gunshot, knife wound or electrocution.

Essentially, causalgia is a more severe embodiment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Complex regional pain syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy and causalgia are used interchangeably.

The primary symptom of complex regional pain syndrome is intense, burning pain. And this pain symptom routinely gets worse.

Other symptoms of reflex sympathetic dystrophy and causalgia encompass:

Over time, reflex sympathetic dystrophy or causalgia symptoms exacerbates into:

These complex regional pain syndrome symptoms are typically irreversible.

Complex regional pain syndrome is believed to be caused by some sort of nervous system malfunction. Potentially caused by an immune response that disrupts healing or leads to the inflammation. But exactly how this syndrome develops isn’t completely understood.

In some rare cases, other health related situations can trigger reflex sympathetic dystrophy, including:

Treatment for complex regional pain syndrome is best instituted as early as possible because later stage symptoms are likely irreparable. Medications that are commonly used to treat reflex sympathetic dystrophy or causalgia are:

For further symptom improvement these other therapies and forms of treatment may provide more burning pain relief:

  • biofeedback
  • physical therapy
  • spinal cord stimulation
  • intrathecal drug pumps
  • surgical symathectomy
  • sympathetic nerve blocks
  • transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
  • hot & cold moist application to affected area

You might get relief, or even remission, from your complex regional pain syndrome’s burning pain if you start treatment shortly after your initial symptoms. Otherwise, your health outcome is not so favorable.

Studies have shown that the risk of complex regional pain syndrome can be reduced by increasing your intake of vitamin C after the injury.

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