Hi rainhill, I'm sorry about your father in law. Yes, a person can get RSD following a heart attack, or following a stroke, or any surgical procedure. Even a slight injury can bring on RSD. I suffered from RSD, now full body, from a breast biopsy 15 years ago, was benign tumor. Immediately following the procedure, got swollen arm, then frozen shoulder. I was sent immediately to physical therapy to get use of shoulder back. Went to remission, then rsd in opposite shoulder, then another remission. It was 4 years before diagnosis was made, which really started following the breast surgery.
It is normal for the majority of drs. to NOT recognize RSD. I flew to Oregon to a well know group of sports injury drs. and was diagnosed in 1 minute. sent over to nuclear medicine department and had a dye test that showed bone deterioration from rsd. Got started on therapy next day, then came back to Arizona and got a good neuro and hand orthopedic Dr. who had a phsyical therapy group experienced with rsd.
I saw my rsd Dr. Monday and he told me Tampa Florida at the VA Hospital they just put in 16 HBOT units. Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment is a treatment that works for some RSD patients. My Dr. who is a neurologist, psychiatiatrist, and pharmacologist just built two clinics in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, AZ each with a HBOT in them. I'm going to go thru the treatment. It promotes oxygen circulation. RSD is a autonomic disorder, which means it affects the involuntary organs-heart, lungs, circulation,
I would encourage you to read as much as possible. This site has a wealth of knowledge-full of loving, caring, empathetic friends, that are very willing to be of assistance. The best chance of remission is EARLY treatment by an experienced RSD Dr. There are some good Drs. in the country. The Cleveland Clinic is one source. This VA Hospital in Tampa, sounds goodl. My Dr. said the HBOT was organized by a RSD Dr. from New Orleans or Houston, I forget, but can find out for you.
A good foot ortho, neurologist, pain management group, may recognize it.
Therapy should be by someone familiar with RSD. NO ICE Desensitization is very important, which is done in therapy and I did it 7 days a week at home. Got 6--7 plastic bowls. Filled them with cotton balls, rice, beans, coffee grounds, sand. run fingers, feet thru the bowls. It's so important because RSD brings sensitivity that can be so bad, we don't want to be touched, clothing is an issue, even sheets on the bed can be bothersome.
Before any invasive treatment, check it out. Some treatments can cause spread of RSD, and you don't want your Dad to go thru that. I now have high blood pressure because of RSD. The sympathetic nervous system raises blood pressure, the para sympathetic nervous system lowers it. RSD also affects the brain. Actually 5 places on the brain. The Limbic part of the brain affects our short term memory, we can be talking and forget what we were saying, we grope for words in completing a sentence. If you go to a site on this forum about a Drs. research-it's really good. After you listen to his video-there is another site that is excellent with the background music of Sarah McGloughlin singing Angels.
I hope the best for your Dad. The thing that has kept me mobile is the swimming pool.I live in Arizona. But the YMCA or GYM has pools-need to be 86 degrees. and exercise. My toes started to curl up off the floor and my Dr. had me in the water everyday counter exercising. After 4 months, my toes were touching the floor again. So important to keep moving. I am completely mobile except one hand-before I was diagnosed with RSD-was misdiagnosed in my left hand as rheumatoid arthritis and got a late start in therapy. It is50% crippled. Please get your Dad to a RSD Dr. RSDSA is the national organization for RSD. Jim Broach is the Pres. go to their website and you can pput in your zip code and get the closest support group or closest RSD Dr.
Another website that is full of good information is rsdrx.com Dr. Hooshmand is a retired Dr. from Florida that still has his website still up. There is a part called puzzles-146 questions with his answers- really good. There is another Dr. that Dr. H turned his patients over to.
Please know we care and let us know how your Dad is doing. Your friend, loretta with soft hugs for your Dad
