My area of concern is RSD/CRPS, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. RSDS/CRPS is a chronic, neurological syndrome.  Anywhere from 200,000 to 1.2 million Americans have this syndrome; the drastic gap is because so many people are left undiagnosed. RSDS/CRPS affects all age groups from ages 3 to 103. There is no cure for RSDS/CRPS and sadly, true remission from all symptoms is rare.

There are two types of RSDS/CRPS.  RSDS/CRPS Type I (originally called RSD) can come from something as minor as a simple trauma or sharp force injury.  But, there are many other triggers that start RSD like:  Surgery, Repetitive Stress Injuries, Carpal and Tarsal Tunnel Syndromes, heart problems, partial paralysis injuries, injections and infections.  RSDS/CRPS Type II (originally called Causalgia) is set apart from RSDS/CRPS Type I because it is always caused by a specific major nerve injury.  If treated quickly enough, the chance of some kind of remission is higher.

There are 4 stages of RSDS/CRPS.  Stage I is known as the Acute Stage. Lasting approximately one to three months, it carries symptoms of severe burning pain, swelling, muscle spasms, joint stiffness, sensitivity to touch and pain, rapid hair and nail growth, and skin color and temperature changes.  Stage II is known as the Dystrophic Stage.  Lasting approximately three to six months, the pain becomes more intense and is constant and may be aching, throbbing, or burning, as well as, feeling like the area affected is being crushed.  Sounds and vibrations exasperate pain levels.  The affected area may still be swollen and stiff nails have now become ridged and brittle.  Skin becomes spotty (mottled) and cold to the touch.  Muscles weaken and may begin wasting.  RSDS/CRPS patients may begin having short-term memory loss, difficulty concentrating and/or having trouble finding the right word when having a conversation and tend to repeat themselves.  Stage III is called the Atrophic Stage.  In this stage, there may be permanent tissue damage and lasts a limitless amount of time.  The RSDS/CRPS may begin to spread to other unaffected parts of the body.  There are a small number of cases 8% or less that show a full body spread of RSDS/CRPS. There are changes to skin and bone, such as wasting or osteoporosis.  The pain is continuous, muscles atrophy, and there can be severe limited mobility.  Unfortunately, at this stage, the pain signals no longer are coming from the original injury site but from the brain.  Stage four, is extremely severe and affects the whole body and internal organs, but fortunately most RSDS/CRPS patients never reach this stage!           

Why is RSDS/CRPS (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) important to me?  My mom has RSDS/CRPS.  She has had it for over five years.  Her RSDS/CRPS began from Cumulative Repetitive Stress Injury and therefore RSDS/CRPS Type I.  Doctors didn’t take care of my mom’s RSDS/CRPS quickly enough and then she had delayed treatment and therefore it keeps getting worse.  Her RSDS/CRPS began in her right hand, wrist and arm.  It has progressed and is in both of her hands, both arms, both feet and both legs.  This subject is important to me because I want people to recover instead of getting worse.  This will only happen if people are aware of RSDS/CRPS.

            Why is RSD/CRPS important to the world?  RSDS/CRPS (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) affects 1.5 to 5 million people worldwide.  Sometimes, doctors don’t believe that some RSDS/CRPS patients are telling the truth.  Sadly, the patients are not getting treatment because of the doctor’s lack of knowledge and their pain is extended.  Researchers are not only trying to find a cure, but they are also trying to find medicines that will put patients into remissions.  Researchers are currently studying how or if patients’ nerve systems will reboot when put into a medicine induced coma with the medication called Ketamine.  Finally, Researchers are also trying to determine if any part of a person’s DNA carries a predisposition for syndromes like RSDS/CRPS.

            What actions am I going to take to help take care of this?  I am going to teach people about RSDS/CRPS (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome).  I will teach them by doing more projects on awareness, building a website, and by raising money for research.   My family and I built a website and blog because of my Action Exhibition but, we will be keeping this going long after my report.  The website is http://mysite.verizon.net/rsdupword and the blog is at http://www.myspace.com/rsd_upword.  Finally, I hope to raise money for research through fun fundraisers like: “Change for Change” in the future at schools I will attend.