Sympathetic overactivity Discussion
Signs of abnormal sympathetic nerve function: The finding of unexplained
abnormal sweating, color changes, unusual temperature as well as other
signs suggest abnormal action of sympathetic nerve control. Commonly
acknowledged reasons for sympathetic overactivity include the personal
stress experienced from intolerable pain, or from fear of being caught in a
deceit, or from an acutely stressful life situation. Alternately, such
findings may indicate a preexisting imbalance in the patient's sympathetic
nerve control. Such an imbalance is thought to be a risk factor for the
unpredictable development of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which may cause
additional stiffness, pain and loss of hand function, well out of
proportion to that expected from the initial problem. In some cases,
crippling permanent impairment of the upper extremity may arise as a direct
consequence of a flare of sympathetic dystrophy. Problems involving the
entire hand, arm and shoulder may be triggered even by the simple treatment
of an otherwise minor hand problem.
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