Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Also Know As Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD), Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy

Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:

Cannabis (Marijuana, weed, hemp) [1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13]:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Evidence shows that smoking or ingesting cannabis may help in relieving symptoms of pain, although some studies have yielded mixed results)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Chaparral (Larrea Tridentata Coville [1, 2, 3, 4]:

Please note, this herb is HIGHLY TOXIC, and has been reported to cause severe and permanent liver disease which can be fatal.

Recommendation: Strongly against (Existing evidence shows that Chaparral is not an effective treatment for complex regional pain syndrome. In addition, this herb is highly toxic and potentially life threatening.)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Black Cohosh (cimicifuga Racemosa):

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (Available evidence does not support claims that Black Cohosh helps to treat symptoms of pain in any way. Studies have yielded mixed results)

Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence

Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulation:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (There is not enough evidence supporting the role of TENS in chronic pain therapy)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Reflexology:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: Weakly in favor (A conrolled study showed that Reflexology may help some people with chronic pain for a maximum of three hours, but shows no effect after that)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Polarity Therapy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly  help with the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (available research does not show that Polarity Therapy might help reduce pain)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Osteopathy:

Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly  help with the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.

Recommendation: No recommendation (Available scientific evidence does not support Osteopathy as helpful alone in chronic pain)

Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence

Low-Level Laser Therapy:

Recommendation: No recommendation (There have been ambiguous results on the few studies done investigating the effect of laser therapy on pain)

Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence

* www.gradeworkinggroup.org

Summary References

Treatments:

1. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009

2. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/_2005/2005_135-eng.php

3. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1

4. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/chaparral

5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/marijuana.html

6. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/extramural/awards/2004/

7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/marijuana

8. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/treatments/complementary--alternative-medicine/marijuana/index.aspx

9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16957511

10. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12965981

11. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17589370

12. http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/6/11/2921.long

13. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2562334/?tool=pmcentrez 

Public Discussion