Hi, gramE:

Thank you so much for your helpful information.

Are you taking your BP medications for BP problems or for the control of some of the symptoms your RSD causes (off-label use)?

Is your MD, the one that fiddled with your BP medications, a primary care physician, a cardiologist, or some other kind of specialist?

Did your MD decide to fiddle with your BP medications (all beta-blockers) to add a calcium channel blocker so that your vessels can be relaxed for better blood flow? Is that because your beta-blockers were not effective enough at relaxing your vessels or is that because your beta blockers are used only for high BP control?

Quote: "After taking the first pill my feet went from purple/blue I've become so accustomed to, and turn fire engine red."

My legs and arms are not purple, blue, or red. My left knee (where my RSD first started), then my left leg, was red, but only during the stage 1 of my RSD. After the red color disappeared, my left knee/leg became white and shiny. It does not feel like blood is running through my vessels, but liquid nitrogen instead. This causes my legs, arms, and sometimes the rest of my body to feel icy cold. This is why I asked my primary care doctor to prescribe a medication for this; he chose a beta-blocker (Inderal - propranolol). This was after my cardiologist had refused to help me. The beta-blocker I take (one 40 mg Inderal tablet twice daily) seems to help, but being in an air conditioned room (at about 22° Celsius) causes very bad RSD attacks.

You take two beta-blockers (atenolol and clonidine) while i take only one (propranolol). I did not know beta-blockers played a role against RSD pain.

Like you, I have horrible headaches. Mine are migraine headaches, which come with very bad tiredness, some fever, and some bad mood.

Quote: "My ankles are the size of my knees from swelling and my face is puffy and a few other things that are tipping the scale to the "more side effects that benefits" side." All these things are caused by your calcium channel blocker?

Quote: "I like having warmer feet without the pain of socks, but I can't enjoy it because of all the other crap." I also like to feel warm, but it is not always easy. Sometimes, I feel freezing cold and sometimes, I feel burning hot. This can happen from one minute to the next.

I do not use Inderal for my headaches, even though they do seem to decrease their frequency. I prefer Relpax (eletriptan) to control my migraine headaches.

I never heard about Zanaflex. I will do some research on it on the Internet. My main pain medications are Duragesic, MSIR, and Tambocor.

Maybe nerve blocks work on you because your RSD is not full body. I asked a pain management doctor and an anesthesiologist for lumbar sympathetic nerve blochs when my RSD was still in my left knee/leg only, but for some reason they refused to give me, they would not give me these blocks. Is it because of the public health insurance company? Possible.

You have a nice and loving family. This is wonderful, so you do not feel so lonely and you can get some support from them, if needed.

I love chili soup and chili con carne. However, my RSD gives me a very poor appetite, even with foods I usually enjoy.

I thank you again for taking the time to answer me and give me information about your experience with RSD, beta blockers, and calcium channnel blockers... Oh, I miss the U.S. so bad. To me, it is the most wonderful country in the world. I must admit I envy all the people living there.