I personally find that ice causes bad flares (REALLY bad ones) and increases my pain. While we were trying to figure out was wrong with me prior to the RSD diagnosis the doctors had me icing a lot despite the pain. The pain got worse and I personally believe that it caused the condition to progress faster than it would have otherwise.

But one thing I KNOW for a fact about RSD...it is different for all of us. We respond differently to different treatments and while there are many factors that most of us have in common...there is no such thing as a "textbook case" of RSD. We all offer up what advice we can based on our experiences...but in the end each person has to do what is best for them. Cold causes me pain, heat relieves the pain (at least a little). If cold does not cause you additional pain then you may be okay to use it...or maybe not...it's up to you if it's worth the risk. Every treatment carries risks with it...some more than others. If cold causes you pain...then I would NOT recommend using ice in your treatment...but if cold doesn't affect you then maybe it would be worth a try to see if it HELPS. We all need to use whatever tricks we can to help our pain.

I always recommend no ice to people because that is not only my own experience...but it tends to be the experience of most other people I have spoken to with RSD (but not all). So...not worth the risk of faster progression of the condition or spread in my opinion...but I would never put anyone down for thinking or experiencing otherwise. This is one of the craziest conditions I have ever heard of...so nothing really surprises me when it comes to RSD.