Quote:
Originally Posted by Coffeebean
Hi all, I have been reading this board since I was diagnosed with RSD in May, 2007. I have had two ulnar nerve surgeries which resulted in RSD in my entire left limb. I have had most of the symptoms of pain, burning, bluish-red blotching, lots of swelling and now dystonia, which is really leaving my hand weak.
Anyway, I have a symptom that comes and goes depending on my activity and environment. When I get nervous or work hard on an exercise bicycle, my left hand will sweat like crazy. This happened again last night while I was watching a movie with my family. It was an adventure (nothing upsetting) but there was a build up in a scene and my left hand starting sweating so much I had to get a towel to clean up the moisture. It continued for a few minutes so I took a .5mg of Ativan to calm things down. That pill coupled with a changed environment (movie ended) stopped the sweating completely. The same thing happens with exercise, if I work hard on my bike, my left hand sweats like crazy yet I get nothing from the right.
I know I never had this problem before the RSD. So I wonder if this means I still have the RSD in my arm? I get so confused. I saw my hand surgeon last week and he said the RSD has resolved and what I now have is a damaged ulnar nerve. Two days later I see my neurologist and she said the sweating and hand stiffness is from the RSD and that it never totally resolves.
I am really confused. Does RSD flare and calm down or if the pain level calms down (sometimes) does that mean I don't have RSD?
Also, if I am just calmly sitting watching a movie and this terrible sweating starts up without me moving my arm (I have it propped on a pillow to help reduce the swelling) then does that mean the RSD is originating in my spine or brain and not in the peripheral nerves?
Any ideas?
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Hi coffebean!
You do have a lot of interesting questions here. ok, now first of all once your diagnoised by the right Dr. about RSD there is no such thing as "Your RSD resolving" There is no cure for it and you listed a lot of symptoms, such as the burning, pain, bluish red blotching, swelling, etc.
I too have symptoms come and go also with the amount of activities I do and of course the environment. Sometimes my RSD is not that bad, but when I have a flare, I am in bed hiding from the world, so to speak. It can rear it's ugly head whenever it wants and this is where I'm more depressed, don't want to be bothered and have "those pity parties for myself".
Now, there a 3 types of peripheral nerves; motor, sensory and autonomic.
Some neuropathies affect all three types of nerves, while others only one or two.
3 types of peripheral Nerves: Motor, Sensory and Autonomic.
Motor nerves send impulses from the brain and spinal cord to all of the muscles in the body. This permits people to do activities like walking, catching a baseball, or moving the fingers to pick something up. Motor nerve damage can lead to muscle weakness, difficulty walking or moving the arms, cramps or spasams.
Sensory nerves send messages in the other direction- from the muscles back to the spinal cord and the brain. Special sensors in the skin and deep inside the body help people identify if an object is sharp, rough, or smooth; if it's hot or cold; or if it's standing still or in motion. Sensory nerve damage often results in tingling, numbness, pain, and extreme sensitivity to touch. Then last of all there is the Autonomic nerves which control involuntary or semi-voluntary functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and sweating. When the autonomic nerves are damaged, a person's heart may beat faster or slower. They may get dizzy when standing up; sweat excessively; or have difficulty sweating at all.
You also asked if the pain levels calm down? Yes, by all means our pain level can calm down and then go and do what ever this beast (RSD) wants to do like I mentioned in the above. Well, hope this helps some and please do go to a doctor who will not confuse you by saying, "The RSD has resolved"!! that's like my older pain management Doctor who told me my RSD will burn itself out and all I have to do is wait it out!! I was like you, confused. Once you have RSD you have it, If you don't have it, you don't. With your symptoms that you mentioned with the pain, swelling bluish, red, I am sure you have it. It can go into remission for a short time or even longer, then to return in weeks, months years latter. That is why these blocks that a lot of us had, to try and see if this helps put us into remission, eases the pain and so forth.
Well, you take care and pick out a really good pain doctor who knows a lot about RSD. I wish you all the best, coffeebean.~Love, Desi
