[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 131 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2011-E2012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NATIONAL REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY AWARENESS

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                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 1, 1999

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the promise of 
medical research. With the advancements in medical research being 
announced every day, the possibilities for improving the length and 
quality of life for all Americans appear impressive and unprecedented. 
We can maintain hope, buoyed by good science, that improved treatments 
and cures can be found for cancer, diabetes, AIDS, arthritis, 
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and spinal cord injuries to name a few. 
However, to take full advantage of this possibility we must increase 
our funding for the National Institutes of Health and all federally 
funded medical research.
  I could marvel you with the achievements in medical research that I 
have seen in the last year through my role as a member of the 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and 
Education. However, I would instead like to focus on those individuals 
that experience pain in their daily lives. The National Arthritis 
Foundation tells me that nearly one in six Americans will suffer from 
some form of arthritis and according to the American Chronic Pain 
Association, pain is part of the daily lives of one in three Americans.
  I am blessed to know a wonderful lady in San Marcos, California, 
Alfie Burns. Alfie is President of the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy 
Syndrome Association of California, serves as an Appeals Board Member 
on the California Department of Rehabilitation, is involved in her 
community and still has time to raise a family.
  It is for people like Alfie that I have recognized the month of 
October as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Awareness Month in the 51st 
District of California. I encourage my colleagues to join me in 
promoting unity in the chronic pain community to provide sound public 
education, cohesive medical information and bring compassion for those 
who experience chronic pain. I wish for all Americans to live self-
supporting and fulfilling lives free from the ravage of pain.

  In Honor of National Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Awareness Month, 
                              October 1999

       Whereas, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) is a complex 
     and extremely painful neurogenic medical condition that 
     afflicts millions of Americans annually. RSD is a multiple 
     symptom condition which may simultaneously affect nerves, 
     muscles, bones, skin, and the circulatory system; and
       Whereas, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) was officially 
     assigned an International Category of Diseases Code Number, 
     ICD-9337.2, in October 1993, allowing accurate statistics on 
     this condition to be collected. According to a recent survey 
     by the National RSD Hope Group, 65% of RSD sufferers contract 
     the disease in their thirties or forties

[[Page E2012]]

     and three out of every four RSD patients are women; and
       Whereas, Alfie C. Burns founded the Reflex Sympathetic 
     Dystrophy Syndrome Association of California in 1992. The 
     mission of the not for profit organization is to promote 
     education and awareness of this debilitating disorder. The 
     RSDSA-CA is the longest standing organization of its kind in 
     the state and it serves as an RSD information resource; and
       Whereas, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) involves 
     numerous medical procedures and a variety of medications if 
     the disease becomes chronic and there is no single standard 
     treatment for the condition. Additionally, medical costs for 
     treatment of the disease can be prohibitive. One of my goals 
     is to double funding for medical research so that new 
     treatments may be found and costs may be curtailed for all 
     Americans with health problems; Now therefore, be it
       Resolved, that in recognition of the numerous 
     accomplishments of the RSDSA-CA, the month of October 1999, 
     is hereby proclaimed ``Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Awareness 
     Month'' in the cities and communities of California's 51st 
     Congressional District.

     

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