Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a nervous system disorder that causes chronic pain. The condition typically affects one limb after an injury, and symptoms include longer than normal or excessive pain, changes in skin color or temperature, and swelling in the injured area.
Physicians believe that damage to the nervous system causes RSD/CRPS.
Some cases of RSD/CRPS are mild and eventually resolve on their own, while others are long-term, and patients never fully recover. The syndrome is considered an abnormal bodily response to injury.
While RSD/CRPS has no cure, many patients manage symptoms with medications, anesthetic creams, injections, and physical therapy. Physicians may also advise surgically removing specific nerves to alleviate symptoms in severe cases.
What Is Regenerative Therapy?
Regenerative therapies use several techniques to help the body heal its tissues. While regenerative treatment is relatively new, it offers promising results in treating patients who previously could only manage symptoms.
There are several types of regenerative therapies, but stem cell therapy is at the forefront with its promising ability to repair damaged cells and create new, healthy ones.
Stem cell therapy promotes the body’s repair response. Stem cells injected into the site of diseased, dysfunctional, or injured tissues may have the ability to differentiate into the types of cells needed to regenerate old, damaged cells into new cells.
How Can Regenerative Therapy Treat RSD/CRPS?
As researchers continue to discover the potential healing capabilities of stem cells, numerous studies offer promising results. For example, stem cells may have the potential to reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and repair or regenerate damaged cells.
Although doctors don’t fully understand RSD/CRPS, they believe several factors contribute to it, including dysfunctions in the immune system response.
Stem cell therapy is already widely used to treat musculoskeletal disorders, including degenerative arthritis, and case studies displaying the use of stem cells on RSD/CRPS patients show great promise. Watch Paula’s story on her impressive benefits from stem cell therapy.
For example, in one study, a woman with stage 3 RSD/CRPS saw dramatic improvements. Her medical team harvested her own autologous, adult stem cells, and implanted them into her previously fractured, non-weight-bearing calf. Over six weeks, her symptoms dramatically improved, and she no longer needed adaptive aids to walk.
Advancements in regenerative therapy help patients whose best options were, previously, a life of poor pain management. As science progresses in unlocking the potential of stem cell therapy, many patients are already seeing the benefits of this groundbreaking new medicine.
This post was written by a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine, also known as Stem Cell Therapy in Tampa. Regenerative medicine seeks to replace tissue or organs that have been damaged by disease, trauma, or congenital issues.
