PRINTER'S NO. 1166

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No. 142 Session of 2003

        INTRODUCED BY EARLL, KUKOVICH, CONTI, KITCHEN, COSTA, ARMSTRONG,
           ORIE, CORMAN, TARTAGLIONE, BRIGHTBILL, MOWERY, ERICKSON,
           O'PAKE, RAFFERTY, GREENLEAF, SCHWARTZ, LEMMOND, FERLO,
           C. WILLIAMS, WONDERLING AND LAVALLE, SEPTEMBER 16, 2003

        INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 16, 2003

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Designating the month of November 2003 as "Reflex Sympathetic
     2     Dystrophy Syndrome Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

     3     WHEREAS, All Pennsylvanians should be made aware that a
     4  multitude of seemingly unrelated disorders constitute the
     5  serious condition known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome
     6  (RSDS); and
     7     WHEREAS, There are an estimated 8 million people throughout
     8  the United States who suffer from RSDS, a painful disorder
     9  caused by an overactive sympathetic nervous system following a
    10  trauma, injury, infection or surgery; and
    11     WHEREAS, In 70% of patients, RSDS spreads through the same
    12  and/or opposite extremities, and RSDS can spread throughout the
    13  body; and
    14     WHEREAS, Any part of the body, internally or externally, may
    15  be affected, causing constant and excruciating pain; and
    16     WHEREAS, Despite the efforts of many health care
    17  professionals, researchers and doctors, RSDS remains extremely

     1  difficult to diagnose and treat; and
     2     WHEREAS, If undetected and untreated in the early stages of
     3  the disease, the cure rate for RSDS drops significantly to less
     4  than 5%, and RSDS may become a lifelong debilitating condition;
     5  therefore be it
     6     RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of November
     7  2003 as "Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Awareness Month"
     8  in Pennsylvania; and be it further
     9     RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the citizens of this
    10  Commonwealth to learn about the causes, symptoms, diagnoses and
    11  treatments for RSDS; and be it further
    12     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
    13  the Philadelphia Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Support Group, the
    14  Northwestern Pennsylvania Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
    15  Association and the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
    16  Association of America.










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