Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome following herpes zoster

Cutis. 2001 Sep;68(3):179-82.

Abstract

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS), or algodystrophy, is a poorly understood, painful syndrome that consists of multiple symptoms, including vasomotor instability, swelling, and chronic pain involving an extremity. Although RSDS following herpes zoster is classically recognized, only a few well-documented cases of this complication have been reported to date. We present the case of a 63-year-old white woman with characteristic signs and symptoms of RSDS in the left upper limb that appeared 3 weeks after she had a typical herpes zona involving the left C5-C6 dermatomes. Early diagnosis and treatment with physiotherapy, intranasal salmon calcitonin, and oral calcium achieved a progressive improvement of the disease, which healed without sequelae in a brief time.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intranasal
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Arm
  • Calcitonin / therapeutic use
  • Calcium / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Herpes Zoster / complications*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Physical Therapy Specialty / methods
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / therapy
  • Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / virology*

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • salmon calcitonin
  • Calcitonin
  • Calcium