I think I have a headache after reading that. hahaha...hehehehe...naw just kidding. But sometime laughter is the only thing that can get us through. Thanks....I did need a laugh.

Hi Denise,

I too have been diagnosed with both RSD and fibro. I thought my RSD came first (after two failed ulnar nerve surgeries) but then a neurosurgeon friend of mine sat me down and said that I had fibromyalgia and that is probably what caused pain in my arm leading to the surgeries. I don't know, I thought I had the RSD first, but maybe this doctor is correct.

I fought both diagnosis for a long time. I was too afraid of RSD to accept I had it and that may have been a mixed blessing. I am now traveling to see a specialist at the Cleveland Clinic and he has been surprised at my recovery. He thinks it may be related to the lack of medication that I have taken. I was so much in denial about RSD and in so much pain from my surgery, that I could not force myself to get the SGBs or take the medications prescribed. Every time I try, I seem to get so sick from side effects.

I do struggle with RSD because I will tend to get a break from it but then it flares up again. I get so discouraged because I feel so isolated from the world. Like life is going on but I have to sit at home and miss it. I miss going to work, seeing coworkers, feeling vital, having some financial independence, etc. Yes, RSD (and fibro and all these nasty pain syndromes) sure can rob a person of some good years.

Okay, sorry to get down. I have been struggling for the first time in my life with a little bit of depression so I am working through it. Responding to a post is a step for me. I have read these forums for over a year, but I don't write as much because of pain or anxiety. You know, it is like - if I respond then I must be admitting I have the disease. Yes, I think I am still struggling with it all.

Anyway, I hope you are doing well. Also, I wanted to know what you did to get your RSD to go into remission for a while?

Hello and thanks for post I am so sorry you also have also been dxed with both.
At first I wore a catapress patch/Clonidine directly over the useless foot. This is how my Dr. Dxed me with RSD because in several days I could move it and start to put weight on it.
However it still hurt like **** so I wore the catapress patches its a heart med but works on RSD by slowing the nerve impulses .
I took Neurontin for the burning shooting twitching pain and tried most ever pain killer my Dr could think of most hurt my stomach real bad. I now have an ulcer most liiey fro the meds
I was on ibupropen 800 muscle relaxers & antidepresents After developing a rash where I put the patch my Dr put me on Clonidine the pill form it really helped.However.........................
I finally decided that I had had enough pharacuticals after trying a new SSRI that caused me to pass out on the bathroom floor and wake up almost unable to move except for my heart which was racing at 145-165!!!!!!!!!!!
After all this and 3 nerve blocks which did not help but did make it turn into full body RSD (my opinion)I decided I needed a new plan so I slowly went off all meds for 3 years.During this time my discomfort was minimal.
When problems came back it started with my stomach so I started to keep a list of what makes me feel bad.
It was the discovery that I was NOW allergic or sensitive to soy, wheat and dairy that turned things around for me.I also gave up cafein for 3 years.All forms of it except green tea boy was it hard to give up chocolate
I really thought the rsd was gone until I went on a cross country vacation for a month when I got home the pain was back but it was different instead of burning now I get a lot of all over muscle cramps and back, shoulder and neck spasms that last for a days.
Just when I was learning to deal with it again a stressful thing happened with my daughter and grandson.My Dr thinks maybe the stress and lack of sleep gave me fibro on top of the RSD but that's my GPs opinion. I did not think stress could bring back RSD I thought only a new injury could. I am learning stress can be as bad as an injury, for someone with RSD , as it leads to a lack of sleep and for someone with RSD that just spells more pain soooooo now I am back to taking Atenolo ,Soma ,Tramadol, Trazadone daily. &Valuim & Davocet when needed.
I hate meds and being dependent on them but several new books I am reading about Fibro say you need meds untill the flares are under control.
My RSD books say the same thing
What do you think ?Personaly I think it's the processed food.So I have gone organic.Trader Joes is my favorite store.
Take care and feel better soon.
Denise
Sorry the post is so long I am from Texas and come by it naturally LOL

Denise, this is so funny you mentioned Trader Joe's. I just made my weekly run there this afternoon. If I am being careful and watching my diet, I do feel better. But I have to admit, on the way to Trader Joe's I ran through McDonalds and got a medium coffee. I need it to get through my little shopping trip. That is one of my big hurdles to tackle - get off the coffee. Do you think it made any difference when you omitted caffeine for three years? Are you still off of caffeine?

My husband too has said to me several times recently that I am in denial about the diagnosis of RSD. I am lucky because he is so supportive when I need him. It has been hard one him, I can tell, but he doesn't ever complain. Seeing me in pain all the time and no longer able to work has been hard (I am 51 this year and did not plan on retirement until 65). It sure has been a financial hardship on us. Health issues can sure change the course of one's plans.

What makes it worse for me is that I live in fear every day of RSD and a spread. I can deal with the change in lifestyle and social life better than I can deal with the fear of the unknown. I know other posters have said the same thing - they went to many doctors (like me) in the hopes of a new miracle or answer only to end up with more meds and more emotional exhaustion. I think if I can just accept it, then maybe I can put some energy into creating some balance, rather than just going from doctor to doctor.

As for the fibromyalgia, I can't even get a handle on that one. I know I hurt everywhere, it is like all my nerves are so irritated all the time. I can tell I have had the fibromyalgia longer than the RSD. I was just able to deal with it by taking Advil, Darvocet and a few other meds.

I was interested in what another poster (I think her name is Cinnamon) had said recently about fibromyalgia and a connection to viruses we are exposed to. I know for sure I never felt the same after having a really bad case of mono (Epstein Bar) when I was 18-years old. It took me a year to get any energy back and from that time on I had constant aches, sore throats, exhaustion and flu -ike symptoms. This poster said her doctor gave her some antiviral meds and she felt better, along with some other treatments. I wonder if there could be a connection. It is very possible I think since doctors are not yet sure of the cause.

Well, my arms hurt (RSD in my left arm) so I will stop for now.

LIsa

I dont know anything about RSD but I am learning more and more about
Fibro. And I am not liking what I'm learning.

I have had the worse few days, about 10 days ago, I started getting
a sinus type feeling, but knowing it wasn't a infection yet. I just
moved along. I had fell and have 3 stitches in my knee on Wednesday
the 29th of October, and have a broken finger. So then this last
Wednesday I lost my voice and finally started to get it back yesterday.

And have been coughing my head off. I have presdnone left from the
last infection so am finishing it and doing nebulizer treatments. Trying
to keep breathing. But if I dont get lots better soon will need a doctor.

Donna

Hello FM friends! You know, as hard as it is to read about other members/friend's misery and pain, it validates to me that my FM is one nasty disease. Right now w/the damp, cold weather upon us, it is rearing it's ugly head in a big way.

Denise~ I am so anti meds too. I fight taking them, but after my Rheumy appt yest, I think my Dr finally got through to me. He changed my AD, upped my nightime med and told me to take my pain meds. I have so much daily pain that my body is constantly in an uproar trying to combat it, which he explained, leaves me suseptible to so many other ailments.

Lisa and Donna~ Your'e right too! I've had FM for a long time and I thought I had a handle on what it is about. It seems to change and of course, we all know how unpredictable FM can be. I have a book on FM, but think I need to reread it and re educate myself.

Donna~ Hope your'e healing; I am a "tripper and faller'' too. NOT FUN!

Have a good day all and thanks for the reminder that I need to treat my FM, not fight it.

Oh my ((Donna)) what a time you've had of it. That old 'when it rains, it pours' sure has been happening to you! Hope you are better.

((DM)) what meds do you take? Every time I see my doctor he harps on me (nicely though) to exercise. I wonder how many fibro patients he has? I just look at him and think...yeah, right! Should I exercise before or after I wrap up in my hot blankets after work for the pain?

It has been a rough month. And here I am, never having admitted that yes, I am a barometer, LOL! When I get up from my desk at work most days, it's a huge effort and I hobble around til my body gets with it. People are always asking what's wrong! Now I just go ahead and say "I have fibro, it's nasty, I'm in a bad flare, and I hurt all over." I usually get an "Awww, that's awful."

It is SO nice to be able to talk to people who share this! I don't feel so alone with it. There is one other lady at work with fibro and occasionally we commisserate.

Hi all

Well the sagga continues

My knee has a area that has a small infection possibility. So if they
hadn't already ordered a zpak for my cold the day before. I'd have
been put on antibiotics.

My finger isn't liking me. Its not exactly healing like I'd like. But
I'm hoping soon.

And I slept most of today, and I think that is good. And I'm working
on feeling lots better. Soon I hope to report a big better feeling.

It makes my work harder.

Donna

All...yes...FM is bad. There are somedays I have a hard time trying to understand what my body is trying to tell me. FM seems to be an ever changing disorder with so many environmental influences that it is really hard to get a handle on. My Rhuemy insists that I start exercising also...recommended yoga, pilates, tai chi, etc. She stated she does want me to work my muscles just stretch them at least 4 days a week. On amazon, there are 2 yoga dvds specifically design for FM patients. I have both but only tried one of them. So far it is not bad at all. I am glad that I too found this board and have people who understand what I am going through to talk too. Don't know about most, but my family really does try to understand and they do to a point. They just can't completely cause they aren't going through it. So I just wanted to say THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD. THERE ARE SOMEDAYS I JUST DON'T THINK I COULD MAKE IT ANOTHER MINUTE IF IT WAS NOT FOR THIS BOARD AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE HERE.

I just wanted to give all my fellow fibro friends a big hug!!!