Secondary Effects of Trauma: (Pain) Sympathetic Dystrophies

Sympathetic Dystrophy or causalgia (pain) is a disability following traumatic injury. It consists of burning pain, glossy sweating, skin changes, and exquisite tenderness caused by tissue damage involving the sympathetic nervous system. Treatment consists of blocking the sympathetic nerves to the area by injecting drugs or by surgical repair. As the item of pain and suffering always is a major factor in a lawyer\u27s estimate of the proper amount of a damage award, the medical analysis here presented is of wide interest and utility to lawyers as well as to physicians