Reflex sympathetic dystrophy and electroacupuncture

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a painful and progressively debilitating condition. Untreated, it leads to changes in the patient's lifestyle that are consistent with chronic pain syndrome. This general overview of contributing factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of RSD presents three consecutive cases for which electroacupuncture (EA) proved to be an effective treatment for RSD pain. Possible underlying neuroanatomical mechanisms of RSD are addressed and the scientific basis for EA is considered briefly.