Guidelines for Neuro-Musculoskeletal Thermography | AAThermology

Guidelines for Neuro-Musculoskeletal Thermography | AAThermology: "Infrared SSR evaluation of the neuromusculoskeletal system is performed to provide an overview of the location, extent and severity of sympathetic skin response abnormalities.  When abnormalities due to vasomotor/sudomotor dysfunction occur there are associated changes in skin galvanic impedance and skin temperature.  Skin galvanic impedance changes map closely with skin temperature. In physics this is explained by the fractal nature of infrared waves and their relationship to resistance and conductivity.   The SSR evaluation can be performed from the cranium to the base of the spine (inclusive of all segments) and torso to the extremities, extended to the fingers and toes.

Common Indications
Some of the common indications for performance of extremity and spine infrared SSR imaging include (1-11):

Evaluation or follow-up of patients with known or suspected vasomotor instability.
Assessment of patients with presumptive Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Type I or II – formally known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD),  Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Vaso-motor Headache and Barre’-Leiou Syndrome.
Pre-procedure assessment for planning of interventional therapeutics.
Follow-up to determine technical adequacy of surgical intervention, i.e., sympathetic block, sympathectomy, peripheral nerve implantation and/or spinal cord stimulator placement.
Follow-up to detect improvement, progression or spread of disease, which may reflect change in condition.
Evaluation of vasospastic disorders, rheumatic inflammation and unexpected post operative or post fracture pain.
Evaluation of somatoautonomic and visceroautonomic responses which may be present secondary to acute trauma or disease.
Evaluation of other disorders associated with autonomic dysfunction such as shoulder hand syndrome.
Evaluation of non myelinated neuropathies.
Mapping of the extent of vasomotor instability to guide sympathetic response generator identification.
Mapping of the location of vasomotor instability for impairment rating purposes.
Confirmation of diagnostic inclusion criteria for clinical diagnostic purposes.
Confirmation of diagnostic inclusion criteria for research purposes."



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Stellate Ganglion Block for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder | Psychiatric Annals

Stellate Ganglion Block for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder | Psychiatric Annals: "SGB has been shown to have utility for diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic purposes for a variety of conditions, including: chronic regional pain syndrome types I and II to the upper extremities (CRPS I and II); chronic and acute vascular insufficiency/occlusive vascular disorders of the upper extremities, such as Raynaud’s disease, intra-arterial embolization and vasospasm. SGB has also been found an effective treatment for poor lymphatic drainage and local edema of the upper extremity following breast surgery; postherpetic neuralgia; and phantom limb pain or amputation stump pain. Patients with quinine poisoning; sudden hearing loss and tinnitus; hyperhidrosis of the upper extremity; cardiac arrhythmias and ischemic cardiac pain; Bell’s palsy and a variety of orofacial pain syndromes, including neuropathic orofacial pain and trigeminal neuralgia; vascular headache such as cluster and migraine headaches; and neuropathic pain syndromes among cancer patients are all also candidates for SGB.2,3,12–16

SGB has also been recommended for improving blood flow to the cranium for angiography and following stroke/cerebrovascular accident and hyperhidrosis to the upper extremities.13,14 Additionally, SGB’s use has been reported in the treatment of Ménière’s syndrome3 and hot flashes.17–19"



https://archive.today/yOe5b

"He knows the procedure is controversial because of the unpredictability of side-effects"

Information about surgery for sweaty hands: surgeon "knows the procedure is controversial because of the unpredictability of side-effects"



"Ferrar believes much of the controversy lies in surgeons, mainly in America, who perform the surgery on anyone who asks for it, rather than the severe end of the spectrum.
"In America there are so many that have been operated on when it hasn't been necessary, or the surgeon has given the patient false expectations, that there are support groups for people who've had complications or adverse effects. The people that come to me are almost self-selecting; they've tried everything else."
The youngest patient he has performed an endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy on was 8 years old, with most being in puberty (when the condition tends to arise). Or they are in their 20s when they are beginning relationships and jobs."



Publication info: Waikato Times [Hamilton, New Zealand] 07 Apr 2012: 22."

Sympathectomy is by no means a benign procedure, and sympathectomy for sweating can induce pain and allodynia

"Sympathectomy is by no means a benign procedure, and sympathectomy for sweating can induce pain and allodynia at the border zone which is sometimes associated with pronounced increase in sweating in that area." (p. 534) Surgical Disorders of the Peripheral Nerves by Rolfe Birch Springer, Jan 21, 2011 - Medical - 512 pages original article published in Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2002; 84:181-184"