Let's Be Chronically Positive

Here are some definitions and explanations of medical conditions that are brought up:

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy 

 Also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.  RSD is a chronic pain condition that can effect any area of the body.  It usually occurs after a minor injury to a limb.  RSD causes the nerves in your body to be damanged and they are unable to properly control blood flow, feeling, and temperature.  This causes problems in the blood vessels, bones, muscles, nerves, and skin.  The key symptoms are intense and burning pain that is much stronger for precipitating injury, it gets worse rather than better over time, and often spreads.  It causes changes in skin temperature, causes faster growth of hair/nails, causes muscle spasms and joint pain, a severe burning, aching pain that worsens with the slightest touch or breeze.  This condition can be extremely debilitating and there is no cure, only treatment to try to control the symptoms.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

a condition of dysautonomia,^[1] more specifically orthostatic intolerance, in which a change from the supine position to an upright position causes an abnormally large increase in heart rate, called tachycardia. Several studies show a decrease in cerebral blood flow with systolic and diastolic cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity decreased 44% and 60%, respectively.^[2] Patients with POTS have problems maintaining homeostasis when changing position, i.e. moving from one chair to another or reaching above their heads. Many patients also experience symptoms when stationary or even while lying down

The symptoms of POTS are lightheadedness, exercise intolerance, extreme fatigue, fainting, excessive thirst, cold extremities, chest pain, disorientation, tinnitus, headache, muscle weakness, tremors, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, brain fog, difficulty finding the correct word, sleep disorders, and feelings of anxiety.

Acute Hepatitis C

A case of Hep C where the body immediately works to fight it off and is able to get rid of the Hep C on its own.  This happens to 1% of patients, and happens within the first month of infection.  Makes the patient immune to further Hep C infections.

Fibromyalgia

A chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

a common type of arthritis that is found in children. It’s a chronic disease resulting in joint pain and swelling. The cause of JRA is not known. It is thought to be an autoimmune illness. This means the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. JRA usually occurs before age 16. Symptoms may start as early as 6 months old. Systemic (bodywide) JRA involves joint swelling or pain, fevers, and rash. It is the least common type. Polyarticular JRA involves many joints. This form of JRA may turn into rheumatoid arthritis. It may involve five or more large and small joints of the legs and arms, as well as the jaw and neck. Pauciarticular  JRA involves four or less joints, most often the wrists, or knees. It also affects the eyes. Symptoms of JRA may begin with a swollen joint, limping, a spiking fever, or a new rash. Symptoms can include: Joint stiffness and pain, Limited range of motion, Warm, swollen, or red joints A child may stop using an affected limb or may limp. Body-wide JRA symptoms: Fever, usually high fevers every day, Rash (trunk and extremities) that comes and goes with the fever, Pale skin, Looks sick, Swollen lymph nodes (glands) JRA can also cause eye problems called uveitis, iridocyclitis, or iritis. There may be no symptoms, or the person may have: Red eyes, Eye pain, which may get worse when looking at light (photophobia), Vision changes