Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a term commonly used to describe severe pain and burning in an upper or lower limb following injury.

S.W. Mitchell in 1864 described this symptom complex in great detail and provided the designation of causalgia (from the Greek "kausis" - burning, and "algos" - pain.)

In 1947, it was argued that the causalgia and related syndromes were merely manifestations of one disease entity and the all-encompassing name of reflex sympathetic dystrophy was adopted. It is...