Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome: a longitudinal study

Abstract

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome is a multi-symptom, multi-system syndrome which affects all age groups with the common, overriding complaint of severe, unrelenting, burning pain. Affecting millions worldwide, the illness trajectory is poorly understood. A large longitudinal patient study has yielded important preliminary findings, which have implications for nurses caring for a variety of patients in pain.