Using ice when you have "cold" rsd will only make things worse and the pain too. "Cold" rsd is only referring to the temp of the skin. In this kind of rsd the blood vessels are already constricted comprimising blood flow. The constriction is the reason our skin is cold and why it turns our skin different colors, ie purple, blue, pink.

When you put ice on "cold" rsd, it constricts the blood vessels even more which also cuts off even more circulation leading to higher pain, a worsening of rsd in that area and possible spread. This is the reason ice is a big NO for rsd. It does not help and ice has no place in desensitization. To desensitize skin, you start with very soft things and slowly, very slowly work toward using rougher feeling things.

When something is already cold, you don't add cold to it, you add HEAT!

With "hot" rsd, the skin being red and feeling warm or hot, these people usually use ice and it feels good. Ice for the heat. With "hot" rsd, using heat makes their pain go up and things worse for them. It's just that simple, Ice = Heat, Heat = Ice. :-D

Hugs,

Karen