Introduction
Many patients suffering from Sudeck’s disease wonder whether a cure is possible. You can read various things about this on the Internet. The problem with Sudeck’s disease, or CRPS for “complex, regional, pain syndrome”, is that its mechanism of origin is not fully understood.
This makes therapy more difficult, because without knowing the cause, only the symptoms can be treated, but not the actual cause. In principle, a cure for Sudeck’s disease is possible. However, not within days by means of surgery, but in the form of a multimodal concept.
This concept is based on occupational therapy, physiotherapy, local and systemic medication and application therapy. Since every patient is different, it is necessary to first slowly find out what helps in the case of Sudeck’s disease. In addition to building up strength, for example through manual work in the course of occupational therapy, water baths, lymphatic drainage and passive joint mobilization are also available for treatment.
In lymph drainage, the lymph fluid is drained from the swollen tissue to remove any lymph congestion. Ultrasound therapy, acupuncture and ointment bandages can also contribute to healing. The medicinal approach is based first of all on analgesics, i.e. painkillers.
Most painkillers not only relieve pain but also have an anti-inflammatory effect, which is important in the treatment of Sudeck’s disease. With the help of glucocorticoids, inflammation can be combated systemically. However, it should always be borne in mind that drug treatment can also cause a number of side effects, which can impair the success of the therapy.
Therefore, each patient must be approached slowly in order to create the perfect therapy concept. A cure is therefore definitely possible, but it requires patience on the part of the patient and the person treating him/her, as well as appropriate cooperation from the person affected. The duration of healing can vary greatly in the case of Sudeck’s disease.
In fact, more than half of those affected experience an improvement or even a complete abatement of the symptoms over time. The prognosis for children in particular is very favorable. The healing process can take weeks to months. In some cases, the symptoms become chronic, so that there is no possibility of a complete cure with pain relief.
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