FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Evidence-Based Review of Neuromodulation for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Conflict Between Faith and Science?

摘要

While it was more than 20 years ago, I remember well the face of a 19-year-old woman who presented to me with what was then called reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). Having sustained an innocuous injury during gymnastics practice four years earlier, Susan developed discoloration, swelling, and severe burning pain in her foot and leg. Aggressive rehabilitation therapy, pharmaco-therapy, and even sympathectomy had failed to improve her symptoms. A trial of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) was highly successful and a permanent system was implanted with complete relief of her pain and resolution of her symptoms. Most memorable to me was that she returned seven years later, symptom free, requesting that her stimulator be removed prior to her planned pregnancy. The smile on her face as she held her newborn child was the only testament that I needed to convince myself of the efficacy of SCS for RSD.