Vitamin C for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), sometimes called Sudek's atrophy, and shoulder-hand syndrome, is characterized by persistent aching pain, swelling and coldness in the affected limb for durations well beyond the typical recovery period. Though its cause remains somewhat mysterious other than that it is generally associated with previous limb injury or fracture, taking vitamin C daily after an initial injury can help prevent development of RSD. People who took no vitamin C were over three times more likely to develop RSD than those who consumed over 500 milligrams of vitamin C each day for two months after the initial injury event.