There are three stages of RSD. The first is called the acute stage which occurs in the first 3 months and may involve burning pain, swelling, increased sensitivity to touch, increased hair and nail growth in the affected region, joint pain, and color and temperature changes. The second stage is called dystrophic occurring in months 3-6. This stage may involve constant pain and swelling. The affected limb may feel cool to the touch and turn blue. Muscle stiffness, atrophy of the muscles, and early osteoporosis also may occur. The third stage is called atrophic, occurring after 6 months.  In this stage, the skin may feel cold and look shiny, muscle stiffness and weakness increases. Also, symptoms may spread to another limb.

Motor, Nervous, and Immune Systems will be affected. Symptoms may worsen over time and may become disabling. The following are some of the symptoms of RSD:

• Burning pain
• Extreme sensitivity to touch
• Skin color changes
• Skin temperature changes
• Joint pain
• Redness
• Swelling
• Frequent infections
• Difficulty starting movement
• Increased muscle tone, stiffness
• Muscle spasm
• Tremor
• Weakness
• Dermatitis
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Migraine headache

The proper diagnosis is often very hard to achieve unless an injured individual seeks medical treatment from a doctor experienced with RSD. If you think you are experiencing symptoms of RSD, notify your doctor and request a Three Phase Bone Scan, which can often help detect RSD.Oftentimes, a diagnosis of RSD is only rendered after other conditions that produce similar symptoms.

Although there is no known cure for RSD, the following treatments have proven effective in redcuing the symptoms of RSD:

• Physical Therapy
• Medication
• Nerve Block
• Psychotherapy
• Spinal Cord Stimulation

Like doctors, all injury attorneys are not created equal when it comes to handling an RSD injury. If you have been injured in an accident in Wisconsin and have developed symptoms of RSD, it is important to contact an experienced Wisconsin Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy – RSD or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – CRPS Injury Attorney.

It is important for doctors to note, and trial lawyers to point out, which medications are being prescribed specifically for pain due to an injury from the accident, rather than prior diagnosis of depression. Otherwise, it is too easy for defense lawyers, insurance agents, and jurors to identify the treatment with a prior existing condition of depression rather than pain due to a new injury.

There are many types of antidepressant medications that help people with persistent pain (from accident related migraines, headaches, brain injuries, back injuries, RSD, etc.) feel better and function better such as Tricyclic Antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Imipramine, Doxipine) and Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors (Paxil, Effexor, Prozac).

A patient’s doctor can help determine the best type of anti-depressant to help treat the pain and limit side effects. In trial, the individual’s  lawyer should highlight the reason that the medication is being prescribed, either for depression, pain, or both.

For more on Post Traumatic Migraines, Post Traumatic Headaches, or Back Injuries.

The description below is written by the publisher Chronic Stimulation, LLC :

Chronic Pain is one of the most pervasive and most costly diseases in the World. Millions of people suffer with chronic pain and its insidious symptoms. For sufferers, it is critical to their medical care that they can effectively communicate the nature of their pain to their doctors. This is a difficult challenge since pain is one of the most subjective and personal experiences humans face.

Chronic Pain Tracker has been designed to improve the Patient-to-Doctor exchange of pain information. Using Pain Tracker, the patient can monitor three key pain metrics: pain intensity, location, and description. Sufferers of Chronic Pain know that each of these metrics can change day to day, or even hour to hour. This can make diagnosis and treatment of pain symptoms more challenging since patients most commonly describe their pain based on their most recent experience rather than using an evaluative process to statistically describe the typical pain symptoms being experienced.

Capturing Pain Data

With Chronic Pain Tracker, the user regularly makes a Pain Entry in the application. Depending on their needs/preferences, this may be once a day, or once every few hours. The entry process is designed to be intuitive and quick, while still capturing the necessary details about their pain. The following data points are captured for each entry:
Timestamp – this date/time marker is automatically generated by the application with no user interaction required.
Pain Level – using the familiar visual pain scale, the user selects their current pain level from 0 to 10
Pain Location – simply tapping on the body sections defines where the pain is being felt
Pain Descriptions – the user can select one or more adjectives in the table that best define the pain they are feeling
General Comments – the user has the option to provide any other details/information desired for the entry

Chronic Pain Tracker Lite is capable of tracking a maximum of 10 pain entries. This would, for example, provide 1.5 weeks worth of daily entries. Download the full Chronic Pain Tracker version for unlimited database entries.

Pain Analysis & Summary

With Pain Tracker, a user can automatically consolidate pain entries for a given time period and statistically analyze those entries. The application includes a series of pre-define reports such as “Last 7 days”, “Last 30 days”, etc. but also allows the user to define their own start and end dates for the analysis.

For more information on Chronic Pain Injuries.

1. Always use the word “new.” “…following the accident, I have a constant new pain…” A description of new pain since the accident, will usually lead the doctor to only one conclusion. The accident caused the new pain.
2. Pinpoint the location. “….at the base of my skull.…” The more precise you can be, the easier it will be for your doctor to make a diagnosis. Describing the exact location can also let your doctor know if it is time to refer to you a specialist.
3. Use strong adjectives. “….a stabbing pain…” The use of strong adjectives by a patient usually ends up in the medical records, which can be of great assistance later on.
4. Rate your symptoms. “…maybe a 6 out of 10…” This provides the doctor with some idea as to the severity of your pain. Later it can be used to determine improvement with treatment, i.e. a decrease in pain from a 9 to a 1 would show improvement.
5. Tell your doctor things you cannot do. If you “can’t lift your child” or you “can’t concentrate at work,” this informs your doctor that your injuries are affecting your life.

For more personal injury advise, order your free copy of the Wisconsin Personal Injury Claims Book.

The better an injury victim is able to remember and describe their specific injuries and the specific impact these injuries had on their life, with specific examples, then generally the more money they will likely receive in pain and suffering. The pain diary empowers the injury victim and helps level the playing field between the injury victim and the insurance company. During the case, the injury victim can refer back to their pain diary to refresh their memory of the devastating effect the injury had on their everyday life.

Rozek law offices offers a free Headache Journal

For more information on Post-Traumatic Headaches