Hi ...it is so nice of you to try and help your girlfriend . I hope you will find some answers here. I have rsd in my left foot. knee and upper leg. I used a boot for a year along with a cane. When the dr realized that I wasn't going to get better, he ordered a custom made leg brace called a molded AFO. It is a plastic brace that fits inside a regular shoe. It took a while to get used to but it is very helpful and my balance is better than with the boot. I use it along with the cane. But, like you said, the cane or crutches do cause problems with your arms and hands. So, what I've recently done is purchased a mobility scooter that is portable so I can take it with me and be independent. I had mixed feelings about using it at first but now I LOVE IT. It gives me a break from the pain and the struggle of walking as well as giving my arm a rest. Perhaps this might be something worth looking into. It is nice to have something that brings a little relief. Hope this helps...take care.