Actually RSD is the body's inappropiate response to pain.  Normally starts about 9 - 10 days after the initial injury.  When it should be mostly healed, the system says 'hey, wait a minute, that really hurts' .   I cut my left little finger, small cut, but had to have surgery to repair both extensor and flexor tendons.  It was after a re-check by my surgeaon and my hand was wrapped carelessly, I developed RSD.  It was 2 years of absolute Hell, resulting in the amputation of that finger.  There is alot more to the story but that's the basics.   An interesting side-note though.  My Dad had an occurance of RSD and he was hospitalized for 3 months for it.  That was in the 1940's.  He has a younger brother that has MS and I also have developed it.  I still think that there is a relation between rsd and ms.   Debbie