Hi. Thank you for the welcome and I'm sorry you have the same problems.

I saw some pictures you posted in you photo album of your hand. My hand looked just like a few years ago just after I was diagnosed with RSD. It was also dark purple/red depending on the temp. I thought I had gangreen and was going to loose my hand, but it was the RSD giving me these symptoms. So luckily I at still my hand! It was very swollen and my wrist was locked and fingers bent. I was unable to straighten them. It hurt to move it or have any touch it to xray it. I couldn't even pick up a pick of paper without pain. My orthopedic dr diagnosed it about 4 months after I broke my wrist in several places. He took my cast off before my break was completely healed and sent me to pt for 6 months and a pm dr who gave me pain meds and 8 nerve blocks. I also went to a neurologist for a second opinion and she confirmed rsd and put me on prednisone for a few months. The combination seemed to help bring down the swelling and make my hand look more normal, though the pain was increasing. It was a deep aching pain. The color still changes but is not as pronounced. I still can't move my wrist or bend my fingers all the way, but it's a little better. I also had long dark hair growing on the back on my hand and wrist. It was very furry and embarrassing. The dr said that was also a symptom of rsd.
My fingernails also were growing very long quick. Also a sign of RSD. Though I always wanted to have long nails so that wasn't as bad! lol. After about a year, the furry hair fell out, thank goodness. I felt like a werewolf! Now in my second year of RSD even though my hand looks more normal, the pain has increased. It's now a deep aching, spasiming, burning pain. It has spread to my left hand and down my right leg and foot. I use a cane to walk mostly in the morning, because my feet hurt so much. I drop things all the time because I can't grasp well with my right hand and now the same symptoms are happening to my left hand and wrist now. Stiffness in fingers, redness in joint areas and now my left wrist is locking. When I tell my drs, they say to keep exercising as well as taking meds to control the constant pain. There is not much else they can do. One of them said the prognosis of my RSD was basically in God's Hands now. I started freaking out and started to see a psychiatrist. I take Xanax and Zoloft for my anxiety and depression that have come with this disease. My immune system has been compromised too. I am loosing teeth, hair and am having bone loss. My memory is awful because of meds. (Neurontin is the culprit). But Neurontin (1800 to 1900,mg daily) help me get through the days.) I also take percs and advil for pain and inflammation. This is so sad being that I never as much even took any pills before in my life. Except for Flintstone vitamins! I always love the taste of them! If your hand still looks like the pictures you have posted, maybe you might want to ask drs to try some of the things my drs have done for me as mentioned above. Maybe it will help you. At the very least, you may get more movement in your hand. I hope I helped and am not scaring you. I'm just telling you my experiences, hoping maybe it will help make you feel better. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I'm here if you ever need to talk. The people on this website are wonderful and thank you for your kind thoughts. I am gaining comfort and strength from knowing I have such great support from all of you. I hope I can give the same comfort and strength back. Take good care of yourself.