Declare CRPS Awareness Month

Assembly Resolution No. 343 BY: M. of A. Byrne MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 2019, as CRPS/RSD Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months and days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious conditions that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 2019, as CRPS/RSD Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National CRPS/RSD Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), is a chronic neuro-inflammatory disorder of a portion of the body, usually starting in a limb, which manifests as extreme pain, swelling, limited range of motion, and changes to the skin and bone; and WHEREAS, Generally following a musculoskeletal injury, a nerve injury, surgery or immobilization, CRPS/RSD occurs when the nervous system and the immune system malfunction as they respond to tissue damage from trauma; the nerves misfire, sending constant pain signals to the brain; and WHEREAS, The persistent pain and disability associated with CRPS/RSD require coordinated, interdisciplinary, patient-centered care to achieve pain reduction/cessation and better function; the level of pain associated with this disorder is measured as one of the most severe on the McGill University Pain Scale; and WHEREAS, CRPS/RSD is classified as a rare disorder by the United States Food and Drug Administration, however, up to 200,000 individuals experience this condition in the United States, alone, in any given year; and WHEREAS, More common in females than males, the highest incidence of CRPS/RSD occurs in females aged 60-70 years old; and WHEREAS, Diagnosing CRPS/RSD is not a simple matter and many patients search for months or years for a definitive diagnosis as there is no specific test available; and WHEREAS, Treatment of CRPS/RSD consist of a multidisciplinary approach involving medications, physical and occupational therapy, psychological treatments, and neuromodulation; despite this, the results are often unsatisfactory, especially if treatment is delayed; and WHEREAS, With less than two percent of health research dollars invested in pain research, the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) hosts Color the World Orange, an annual event held on the first Monday of November to spread awareness of CRPS/RSD; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this devastating medical condition and more must be done to increase activity at the local, state and national levels; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 2019, as CRPS/RSD Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.