Can reflex neurovascular dystrophy kill you?

Answer 1

No... RND cannot kill you. RND is a differential diagnosis, meaning there are no specific diagnostic tests that can definitively show one has RND. However, when other disease processes and orthopedic conditions have been ruled out by medical testing, yet pain still persists, a physician may diagnose the patient with RND (or similar amplified pain syndrome). It is important to note that RND pain is ideopathic, meaning it will not injure or kill you. RND causes one to experience a chronic pain cycle to occur at the muscular level. The theory is that nerves are 'misfiring' causing blood vessels to constrict. This constriction can cause a build up of lactic acid that does not get reabsorbed by the person's body, perpetuating the cycle of pain. While it can cause severe pain flares that may disrupt a person's ability to function in his or her daily life, it is not a fatal disease. There are ways to manage RND long term, such as intensive exercise therapy programs. In addition to intensive exercise, psychology services are also a crucial part of the treatment process. RND can be triggered by illness, injury, or stress - therefore RND should be managed both physically and psychologically.