Reps. Roberts, B., Cochran, Faris, Hoadley, Hovey-Wright, Howrylak, Hughes, Kelly, Poleski, Sarah Roberts and Wittenberg offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 350.

A resolution to declare November 7, 2016, as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), is a nerve disorder that causes chronic pain in one or more extremities along with organs, joints, and muscles; and

            Whereas, The symptoms of RSD/CRPS are often described as burning that is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury and can include extreme sensitivity to the touch, pathological changes in bone and skin, excessive sweating, and tissue swelling; and

Whereas, RSD/CRPS is ranked as the most painful form of chronic pain that exists today by the McGill Pain Index; and

Whereas, There is no identifiable cure for RDS/CRPS and treatments aimed at relieving pain are physical therapy, occupational therapy, nerve blocks, ketamine infusions, Calmare, opiates, pain pumps, and spinal cord stimulators; and

Whereas, Up to 200,000 individuals experience RSD/CRPS in the United States in any given year and the onset of RSD/CRPS can occur at any age or gender, although it is more common in females; and

Whereas, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Awareness Day provides an opportunity for those living with CRPS and others in the community to join together to further educate the public and health care professionals about RSD/CRPS and to work for further research regarding treatment and a cure for the disorder; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare  November 7, 2016, as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Awareness Day in the state of Michigan. We encourage greater awareness of this condition and recognize the day-to-day hardships of those afflicted by RSD/CRPS.