Twitch-obtaining intramuscular stimulation in reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

BACKGROUND

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) remains a painful disease entity of undetermined etiology and variable response to therapy.

FINDINGS: Presented is a patient with left leg early RSD and chronic musculoskeletal back pain who received automated and electrical twitch-obtaining intramuscular stimulation (ATOIMS & ETOIMS) treatments. Diagnosis combined clinical symptoms of pain and allodynia, signs of motor/trophic changes and electromyographic evidence of especially of left L5 root level irritation, with chronic bilateral, multiple level partial lumbosacral nerve root involvement. Signs and symptoms of early RSD resolved with therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

ATOIMS-ETOIMS have a promising role in the treatment of early RSD associated with neuropathic pain resulting from spondylotic radiculopathy.