Hi Kate,
I'm sorry you have had spread in your hand and arm. Are you in physical therapy?
It's really important to get treatment early, it's the best and usually the only time for possible remission. Does your Dr. have a plan for you? Our limbs can permanently lock up without treatment. So important to keep moving, massage therapy is also very good along with p.t. I've also used swimming as a way to keep from freezing up. I've had RSD 13 years now and full body. Only have left hand partially froze up like a claw. Am grateful I stayed with pt along with desensitizing my limbs. It took time to find a good RSD Dr, but so important.
I miss wearing my wedding rings too and other special rings.
If you live close to a large city, a RSD support group really can be a wealth of encouragement and information. We have guest speakers that are Drs. Pharmacists, etc and I've found a lot of coping skills here on the NT and local group. You can find location and phone number on the internet thru RSDSA by giving you zip code. Take care, loretta