A pleasure to talk with you again. The spine itself is not related to RSD/CRPS (reflex sympathetic dystrophy/ complex regional pain syndrome) but does carry the fibers of the sympathetic nervous system that is thought to be the cause of these disorders. The autonomic nervous system as you know contains two parts, the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system goes through the cord and exits in the thoracic spine (T1-T12). Any injury, from a simple contusion to a fracture (to a spine injury) can cause the onset of these syndromes. The “why” has not been elucidated yet.
There is a theory that the pain signals are carried by afferent tracts (sensory tracts) of the sympathetic nervous system that have yet to be discovered by medicine. Heretofore, the sympathetic nervous system was thought to carry only efferent tracts (a one way pathway from the brain to the target organs). The reason the sensory tracts are thought to exist is that an anesthetic block of one of the sympathetic ganglia temporarily stops the pain. This should not happen if this was only a brain to body tract.
I know you are involved with fundraising for research to uncover the causes and find solutions and I applaud you for that. If I can be of any service- please let me know.
Dr. Corenman
