Vanessa
I have made some progress since my latest round of RSD started in late August 2005.

I started massage therapy (with a great therapist who also does cranial sacral therapy) almost immediately. I go to this woman every time I have a significant injury - knew her before RSD. Now that I have RSD, and she works on me, she can usually get the swelling down some, the color more normal, and the temperature better. Sometimes it lasts a couple days, sometimes only half an hour. When I first hurt my arm (the cause of the current problems with RSD) I started going to her 3 times a week for 1-1/2 hours. Now, a year and a half later, I am going every other week for 1-1/2 hours. She works on my RSD areas pretty much the entire time. I credit her work with me for the fact that I am so much better. She worked on me the last time I had RSD (it was in my foot then)... and I got almost 100% better before I hurt my shoulder and it came back. By the way, when I hurt my shoulder, the pain and symptoms came back in my foot. That diagnose that it was indeed RSD.

When I went to a knowledgeable pain mgmt doctor last year who worked with Stanton Hicks, she said there has been some research showing certain massage therapy can prevent the sensitivity to touch if started early enough. She questioned me a lot about mine - as I did not have very much sensitivity the first time I had RSD, and have not had this time either. I wish I could go back to her - she was good... but her office was in a building that my insurance would not pay the charge for - so I had to pay out of pocket $450 each office call plus my co-pay. It was a billing nightmare. Well anyway.....

I have problems with anti-inflamatories. So I take ginger capsules. They seem to help. I know I get worse if I run out and don't get any for a couple weeks. I also take grapeseed extract after reading Vicc's posts a year or so ago. Flax seed oil too because it is a good anti-oxident. I take tumeric, which is a natural pain reliever. I can't tell if that really helps or not. But, it's supposed to build up over time, so maybe not taking it for a day or so would not tell me. I take a mulit-capsule from my health food store for joint health that has a lot of things in it like pineapple extract (bromiline? bromide? something like that)..... I am at work right now or I would check on the name of the exact supplement for you. Another thing I take if I am flaring is arnica.. and use arnica gel. Magnesium, zinc because it's good for muscle problems (I've had painful muscles - myofacial pain for 30 years). Glucosamine condroitin for arthritis and joint health.

And, I try to eat right.... lots of fresh foods, few processed foods. Very few white things... lots of color. I have never been much for drinking (and can't when taking topomax) so I drink a little grape juice each day since I know wine is good for you.

I agree with lisa... meditation can really help. I've mentioned before that the book/cd combo Breakthrough Pain by Shinzen Young was a real turning point for me. I think the book, which is not very long, really helped me understand that you can separate your mind from the suffering that comes from pain. If you can take the fear out of the pain, it becomes much more bearable. Young really helped me understand a lot about pain, and what I could do to help myself through calm thoughts, breathing and a few minutes meditation.

good luck
Jules