RSD Puzzle #082

H. Hooshmand, M. D.

DIPLOMATE AMERICAN BOARD OF PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROLOGY

BOARD CERTIFIED IN ELECTROENCEPHOLOGRAPHY

BOARD CERTIFIED IN ELECTROMYOGRAPHY

BOARD CERTIFIED IN AMERICAN BOARD OF ELECTODIAGNOSTIC MEDICINE

INTRACTABLE NEUROLOGY

EPILEPSY, PAIN, MS

An International Referral Center dedicated to Treatment, Education and Research

RSD PUZZLE #82
Chemical Sympathectomy

There have been questions regarding chemical sympathectomy, chemical neurectomy, injection of phenol, alcohol, etc... as well as radio frequency lesion of sympathetic system. These are extremely dangerous. They are similar to neurectomies, rhizotomies, thalamotomies and other forms of surgical nerve damages which cause severe aggravation of RSD and the spread of the disease to other parts of the body.

Any kind of alcohol, phenol or hypertonic saline nerve blocks aimed at destroying the nerves (Chemical Sympathectomy) are apt to fail, to cause serious complications, and aggravation of the pain- by leaving a large scar behind.

In my 35 years of Neurosurgery and Neurology training as well as teaching I have yet to see any of the above procedures helping a single soul. Unfortunately the young surgeons who do these procedures do not have time to read the 1950, 1960 and 1970 literature which reflect how damaging and destructive such operations are.

H. Hooshmand, M.D.

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