[mimichicago]

I've had chronic left foot pain since 2001. I was 18 when I started feeling slight pain after a run, I'm now 25. At first I could still run and live normally--all I did was start wearing inserts in my shoes. But over the past seven years it's degraded to the point that I can't do much in the way of weight bearing. I can walk a handful of blocks at a time, but no standing for more than five minutes or so at a time, no moving faster than a moderate walk, no fun shoes, biking, dancing, etc. When I flare up, about twice a year, I'm on crutches for 2-3 weeks till it calms down.
So what I'm saying is, for a CRPS patient (the 13th doctor I saw, last November, FINALLY diagnosed me), I'm pretty darn lucky.
My doctors seem to think that I can regain ability through physical therapy, especially because mine hasn't spread and isn't 24-hour pain. I'm taking vitamins b, c, and d, as well as calcium (my left leg is atrophied from disuse), and I'm doing things like "scrubbing" and deep pressure for desensitization, as well as mat pilates and swimming to regain strength. Though it seems to be doing nothing but keeping me in a near-constant state of mild flare-up, I'm hopeful. Has anyone had any luck with any of these more holistic approaches? Can anyone recommend any other non-prescription-drug steps I can take? Massage, acupuncture, etc.? Recommended exercises for lower extremity CRPS? Thanks for any help you guys can give!

[Annie Poo]

Does heat help? Staying warm makes a huge difference for me (4 years of CRPS type II on right half of body). If I get a flare-up, particularly one worsened by being chilled at all, sometimes a hot shower to raise my body temp will help.

FYI - there's a RSD/CRPS forum here at Neurotalk. Others on that forum will likely have more ideas for you.

Good luck,
Annie