The very very first physical therapist I was sent to thought that massaging my ankle would be a good idea. This was prior to the RSD diagnosis and they just thought I had a sprained ankle. God that HURT! I tried to be tough and just sit through it...but the pain just kept getting worse and worse and worse at that point. Of course...they also had me using ice on the ankle, and elevating it, and immobilizing it. Physical therapy for RSD is not the same as it is for other things and should not be treated the same by the physical therapist. If someone tried to push or touch any of my RSD areas again as part of therapy I would probably kill them. I can't even stand getting gently hugged by family.