Quote:
Originally Posted by hurting
I had 3 Drs.send me to the P.T. to desensitize the top of my hand, wrist, and forearm. All this did was make things worst by increasing my pain and lighten my wallet.
I would tell the PT what it did as well as the Drs. all everyone would say is this what needs to be done to fix my problem no pain no gain. After 3 years I finally found a Dr. that listen to what I had been telling all the rest only she listened and changed what I needed to do about the over sensation in my hand, wrist , forearm stopped all my PT.
I went through several test EMG, ultrasound, and more only to find that my radial nerve was not regrowing after the first surgery to fix my nerve. I waited almost a year to find this out because the Dr. told me it would take at least 2 years before we would know if the surgery took. My body was telling me the pain was getting worst by the week instead of getting better.
Has any of you fine folks gone through this same problem as far as trying to desensitize a body part when there was something else completely wrong and increasing your pain 3 fold then told it is in my head and not in my hand ect.
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Hi hurting, It's good to be back to my friends here on NT. We moved 5 miles away to a retirement center, but feels like we moved 5,000 miles. We had a large house and cut that in half with the move. We love our new home and are finally settled.
RSD usually comes along with it sensitivity to touch, fabrics, wind, anything light can be horrendously painful and unbearable. From my experience I happened to be very fortunate-as I wasn't diagnosed with RSD for 4 years. Following breast surgery to remove two tumors, I immediately got frozen shoulder and recommended to physical therapy. My Rehab Dr. oversaw my therapy for a year. Extremely extremely painful, worst frozen shoulder she had seen. Took pain meds prior to therapy. I felt massage therapy would warm up my muscles and advance the therapy, so paid for an hour of light massage therapy just prior to physical therapy. I believe that desensitized me without me knowing it. The physical therapy was torture, but regained almost full range of motion back. Turned down surgery to break shoulder loose and choose to stick with therapy until got use of arm back. My therapist told me it might go to other shoulder. I thought that sounded so strange, as my benign breast surgery was on left side. We moved from Oregon to Arizona and I was (in remission for at least a year) All of sudden felt right shoulder freezing up. Found a great physical therapist ( he had just come off the pga tour and set up his practice) He was great and got full range of motion back, I again did massage therapy prior to physicall therapy.
Another remission. at least another year.
While water skiing, felt my left hand pull a nerve. So Painful, color changed, swollen and so sensitive, couldn't cut fut, peel a potatoe, or even drive with left hand-my left hand became frozen like a claw. The Dr. said I had rheumatoid arthritis, even though my tests were negative for RA. I knew he was wrong so went back to Oregon and saw sport injury group-ortho hand doc and he said rsd in 1 minute, sent me to hospital for nuclear hand test (dye) confirmed rsd. ordered a Tens Unit, which I felt helped me with sensitivity. started therapy in oregon , both physical and massage. Came back to Arizona and found neurologist and ortho hand doc. both confirmed rsd. the ortho hand doc had his own therapy part of his practice. His therapists were familiar with rsd and along with therapy to get range of motion back, he desensitized hand. It was done lightly . They had a machine that you put you hand into and it blew warm sand around. the warm sand of course touched the entire hand. They had me put hand in different bowls, one of rice, coffee grounds, cotton balls, beans, etc. I did this at home too every day. run my hand into these plastic bowls of various textures. I got back partial use of fingers, I can cut my own food, wash dishes, everything just about, but only have partial use of hand. It's frozen like a claw. I am so grateful, but the delay in diagnosis and treatment, didn't make it possible to get full range of motion. Went into remission, then moved to right hand, therapy right away and got full range. I continue to do massage therapy. I have RSD full body, generalized- both feet, spine, and internal. I am not sensitive to wind, fabric, etc. which I am very grateful for. It's been 15 years now, 11 years with diagnosis. The last 6 years have a great Dr. that is psychiatrist, neurologist and pharmacologist. He has been wonderful, especially with my emotions, and grieving process, the losses we all have with rsd and adjustments in life.
I hope this helps you- the densitization needs to be gentle and gradual. Just start with cotton balls, soft pieces of fabric. etc. The Tens Unit is adjustable and can be put on low frequency, gradually increase. The therapy was like I said, torture, but I'm glad I have full motion except left hand. I can type and play piano again, but can't bend my fingers completely. My toes starting curling upward where they didn't touch floor. My Dr. had me get in our pool every day and squeeze my toes while swimming. After about 4 months, my toes are touching the floor again. Swimming is wonderful exercise. the temperture needs to be 86 degrees. Some gyms have indoor pools and keep water at 84-86. But I believe it's 86 degrees that RSDSA says is good for us. The YMCA or EASTER SEALS have warm pools.
Please let us know how you are doing. We really care and find so much compassion and support here. One of your new friends, loretta