317 St. Francis Dr. Suite 350
Greenville, SC 29601


317 St. Francis Dr.
Suite 350
Greenville, SC 29601
Tel: 1-864-235-1834, Fax: 1-864-235-2486

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864-235-1834

RSD Treatments

Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) Relief

There are options for Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) – Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) Relief.  At Piedmont Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, PA in Greenville, South Carolina we take a unique approach to the diagnosis and treatment of CRPS/RSD.   Most offices diagnosis CRPS/RSD based upon relief response to sympathetic block and then focus on symptomatic treatment such as opiates and spinal pumps.  Some more aggressive places also employ IV Ketamine, a psychotropic intended to create amnesia in surgical patients, as it has some unique chemical properties that actually addresses underlying pathology.   In the case of Ketamine however this comes at a cost: in some cases long term brain impairment has occurred.  In Greenville, at Piedmont Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, PA we prefer to both do no harm and to address the root cause of disease rather than just trying to cover up symptoms.   We make use of medical thermal imaging to map and help identify the type and distribution of sympathetic dysfunction and to provide insight into what is generating the aberrant response.   Having accomplished that we can then tailor a treatment program that is intended to provide relief and either reverse disease or retard its progression.  Learn more about CRPS/RSD at piedmontpmr.com.

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Fibromyaglia: Its That Time of Year

Fibromyalgia patients frequently have increased pain when the weather turns wet and cold.  Other conditions such as RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) and CRPS (chronic regional pain syndrome) also experience weather sensitive pain (sometimes even more then fibromyalgia patients do). Other weather sensitive conditions such as osteoarthritis can also experience weather sensitive pain however in general their condition is such that they can tolerate it more easily (if you have arthritis pain that is weather sensitive and do not have a reasonable time tolerating it then it is quite possible that there is more going on with your condition than simply arthritis).   So it is not a surprise that as we approach the winter season that people with weather sensitive pain are having a hard time of it.   Some simple self help techniques include taking epsom salts baths, using over the counter capsaicin containing cream products (dont get it in your eyes or mouth), and simply trying to keep warm.    If that is not enough you likely should go see your doctor.  You may have discovered however that most doctors are not familiar with weather sensitive pain.  If that is the case and you have given up hope then rest assured there are several options available to both diagnose and treat weather sensitive pain.   While weather sensitive pain is not an easy thing to cure there is plenty that can be done to both reduce pain and improve quality of life.  Learn more at piedmontpmr.com.

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CRPS, RSD and Me

The pain from Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) can be overwhelming, to say the least. From allodynia (pain to non painful stimulus) to a whole host of autonomic nervous system disorders that affect motor coordination, vision, and bowel and bladder function CRPS/RSD can easily make someone loose sight of the difference between having CRPS/RSD or CRPS/RSD having them. While the most frequent approaches to  CRPS/RSD include opiates, blocks, and spinal cord simulators none of them improve quality of life if the distinction between having CRPS/RSD or it having you is not addressed.   Not only do we believe that there are several other effective treatment options (see CRPS/RSD on piedmontpmr.com) we also believe that helping you with your relationship to this disease is key.   The South Carolina RSD/Fibromyalgia Support Group meets on the first Thursday of the month at the The Bernadine Center located in the Downtown Campus of Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, in  Greenville, SC, at 6:30 pm.   Their next meeting is this thursday.   Why not join us?  Attendance is free.

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