November 4 is “Color the World Orange” day which is part of November as CRPS/RSD Month.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), is a chronic pain condition characterized by continuous, intense and often burning, pain that is out of proportion to the severity of the original injury.

A great way to get involved with Color The World Orange™ is to reach out to local and state politicians to request a proclamation naming November as CRPS/RSD awareness month or Nov. 4, 2019 as Color The World Orange™ for CRPS/RSD Awareness day. A proclamation is an official, though non-legal, recognition that brings attention to a subject.

According to organizers, there are 18 states that still need applications for state or local proclamations.

In alphabetical order they are: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming.

To Get Started: Look on the website of your local politician as well as your governor for information about requesting a proclamation — many will list a specific contact to reach out to or have a link to apply directly on the governor’s website. If there isn’t a section on the website, call the main office number and ask to speak with someone who works on proclamations. If they ask for more information, you can direct them to the Color The World Orange™ website.

If you are asked for sample language, you can send the following:

Whereas: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) is a nerve disorder that causes chronic pain.

Whereas: The symptoms of CRPS/RSD are often described as burning that is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury and can include swelling and extreme sensitivity to touch.

Whereas: While CRPS/RSD was first identified during the Civil War, it remains a poorly understood condition. There is no cure.

Whereas: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and other institutes of the National Institutes of Health support research relating to CRPS/RSD.

Whereas: Members of the CRPS/RSD community will spread awareness in November.

Whereas: On Nov. 4, 2019, members of the CRPS/RSD community will celebrate the sixth-annual Color The World Orange day to spread awareness of this poorly understood pain disorder.

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