RSDSA :: organization

About Us > The Organization

Founded	1984
Mission	Our mission is to promote public and professional awareness of CRPS and to educate those afflicted with the syndrome, their families, friends, insurance and healthcare providers on the disabling pain it causes. We encourage individuals with CRPS to offer each other emotional support within affiliate groups. Finally, we are committed to raising funds for research into the cause and cure of CRPS.
Members	>6,000, (13%, receive free membership) Join RSDSA Today! Other Ways to Give
Research	RSDSA is committed to encouraging research into the cause and cure of CRPS. Since 1992, RSDSA has funded $1,334,111 in fellowships and grants. During 2008-2009, we funded $155,029 in grants. Recent RSDSA-funded Research Some RSDSA-funded research projects include: 2008-2009 Rachel Tobias Young Pain Research Investigator Award Jenny Lewis, PhD, MSc, Dip COT, is the recipient of the 2008-2009 Tobias Young Investigator Research Award. Dr. Lewis will be investigating the relationship between body perception disturbances and cortical representation of the affected limb in complex regional pain syndrome. This research is important in two key respects. First, it aims to improve our understanding of CRPS. Objective evidence of an association between the brains representation of the CRPS limb and disturbances in body perception may provide valuable insights into the central mechanisms that are responsible for altered thoughts and feelings about the affected limb. Second, it may help in treatment. Given that CRPS is known to be resistive to conventional treatments, an improved understanding of body perception mechanisms may identify areas in which rehabilitation interventions could be specifically targeted. In conclusion, a better understanding of this relationship will inform and contribute to improving rehabilitation outcomes for patients with CRPS. Maternally-inherited mitochondrial DNA sequence variants and CRPS-I With American RSDHope, RSDSA awarded a $50,000 research grant to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and to Richard Boles, MD, Director, Center for Metabolic and Mitochondrial Disorders at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Dr. Boles and his team will study maternally-inherited mitochondrial DNA sequence variants and CRPS-I. Their hypothesis is that is that a brain/nerve energy deficiency that can be caused by maternally inherited changes in the mtDNA code plays an important role in the development of many functional disorders, including CRPS-I. The team will study up to 300 individuals who have been diagnosed with CRPS-I by a physician or other healthcare providers. Pilot Study on Safety and Efficacy of Noninvasive Transcranial Stimulation to Relieve Neuropathic Pain in Patients with CRPS Previous research has revealed that pain in CRPS patients is associated with cortical reorganization, ie, pathological changes in the somatotopic organization and excitability of the motor and somatosensory cortex. As studies in patients with CRPS and other symptoms featuring neuropathic pain have shown that reversal of pathological cortical changes back to normal is accompanied by pain relief, modulation of cortical excitability seems to be a promising therapeutic approach to alleviate neuropathic pain. The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of a new noninvasive completely painless technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), to alleviate pain and sensory abnormalities in patients with CRPS.
Publications	RSDSA Review (Quarterly Newsletter) In Pain, Out of Work, and Can't Pay the Bills, directory for financially-devastated members Brochures and other educational materials Free information packets
Educational Initiatives	Evidenced-based Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of CRPS Article archive of peer-reviewed medical articles on research, diagnosis and treatment of CRPS Electronic Alerts Website Free information packets Slide kit for professionals on diagnosis and treatment RSDSA exhibits at several major medical, health, and benefit insurer conferences.
Funding	Contributions, member dues, program fees, special events, and grant support from pharmaceutical and other companies, and private and corporate foundations.
Where Do Your Contributions Go?	Program Services: 93% Administration and Fundraising: 7% For more details, please see our annual report.
Goals	Producing a DVD that will instruct physical and occupational therapists how to restore function in people with CRPS. It will be accredited for continuing Continue to produce the quarterly RSDSA and the website. Most importantly, we will continue on our mission to educate the community at large about CRPS through our publications, our website, and increased outreach efforts.
Board of Directors	View the Board members here.
Scientific Advisory Committee	View the Committee members here.
Annual Report	View the 2008 Annual Report here.
Affiliations	RSDSA is proud to be affiliated with the following organizations: