Originally Posted by maygin

My full history is in my first post in the Our Stories thread. In some, things were bad until around mid-November, when things started to get better and the RSD looked to be getting better. But this week, things have gotten worse. My right foot has become very cold all the time instead of only occasionally. I had painted both my right and left toe nails in mid-November when I started mirror therapy. Now, the right foot is less painted than the left - on some toe nails, the polish has rubbed off while on others, it has become lighter. Whenever I put my foot in water (in the shower, foot soaks, etc.), the toenails turn chalky white. Slowly, it's starting to stay. Fuzz from my socks stick to the nails now and they nails are super tender to the touch. I had a brief moment of hyper sensitivity in my right leg. My ankle is growing stiffer and there is a dull burning pain in the ankle. I developed a red mark on my right leg. The skin on my foot has become shiny and is more consistently blotchy. I'm so afraid that all of this means the RSD is spreading and not actually getting better as it appeared to be for a few weeks. I started becoming depressed this week and today fell into a full depression. I can't see my treating doctor until the 17th. I've been able to make it through a lot up until this point, but I'm losing faith that I can handle this if it keeps getting worse and becomes permanent. My RSD first was much milder than many other cases and I felt lucky. It was so mild in fact that two doctors have refused to do nerve blocks on me. I'm so afraid that was a huge mistake that will cost me for the rest of my life. I can't stop thinking about it. I don't really know what to do anymore.

- Does anyone know if my condition is getting worse? Or is it as my PT says - the only way to judge this condition is by pain, which has gotten better, so it's getting better?
- Does anyone have suggestions for warming my foot up? I have tried warm socks, turning up the heat, and as many blankets I can stand. The only thing that has helped is using a heating pad, but it means I can't leave the home or the couch.
- Does anyone have suggestions on how to deal with the painful toenails? They don't want a sock on, but it's vital I keep my foot warm. My choice is either a painful toenail or a painful cold foot. I'd rather have neither.
- Does anyone know what the deal is with nerve blocks? I have read so many sites on this and some seem to treat nerve blocks as the only way to "cure" or put RSD into remission where others seem to treat nerve blocks as one of many options depending on the situation, none of which will necessarily put RSD into remission.

Thank you for your help!