My ledt arm swelled 1.5 times normal after moving about 300 bricks in a back and forth motion for about 2 hrs for a home project. Was careful to not do this too fast or lift too heavy of loads as already had arm and neck pains from typing amost of the day every day at my job, email providing technical guidance and developing contingency documents.
Laid in bad for 6 days and pain in back of left should was constant for 4 days and was acute pain. Already had existing lumbar and cervical surgeries. Quit job last Aug as couldn't deal w/ this any longer. I have a hard time typing w/ arm & neck pain and tightness. Would like to talk to someone w/ similar problems. I would prefer phone conversations during the wkdays between 10 and 2o pm M-Fs. I can call as have unlimited long distance. I have a board certified pain spec and a neurosurgeon in Nashville who will replace my L-5 thru S-1 w/ a cage and 2 wks later go in thru the back, remove spurs and put in rods and screws. I'm 46 but have chronic degenerative bones in cervical area as well. 2 fusions for c-7 thru c-4.

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help. Check out the following forum for some assistance.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

There are great and caring fellow members here to assist you. Our shouders are here for support in many ways. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

Hi.

I really have to ask you a question. Because you had surgeries in the past, why would you move 300 bricks in a back and forth motion? You didn't think you'd be affected?

Sorry to be nosy, I'm just curious.

Ihave lived with RSD for 6 long yrs. I broke the ring metecarcaple in my left hand and from that got RSD. I was told if I had gotten it diagnoised in the first 3months I could have done something for it. It took a yr. for a Dr. to tell me what it was < so now there nothing I can do except major drugs>

Hi khines and welcome to the group. I'm sorry to hear you have RSD. It is an ugly monster that robs our lives of so much. I was a RN before I had to go on full disability in March 2008. I miss my career so much. I worked in oncology and loved it. My RSD started in my right arm and shoulder. It started from a herniated disc at C4/C5. The disc entrapped the C5 nerve root causing permanent damage and even though I had an ACDF (Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion)in November 2006 the damage was already done. The nerve damage led to the RSD. It has since spread to my left arm and shoulder, ribs on both sides, chest wall, and upper back. It also affects some internal organs, most notably my heart and stomach. In the last two weeks or so I have started having symptoms in my lower back and I am afraid it is now spreading there.
I'm sorry to hear you will soon be facing surgery. Surgery is scary for anyone but even moreso for those of us with RSD because of the fear of the RSD spreading. I'm glad to hear you have a pain mgt doc and nuerosurgeon caring for you. I have been lucky to have an excellent group of doctors--pain mgt, nuerologist, cardiologist, neurosurgeon, orthopedic surgeon, gastroenterologist, and primary care. I would be happy to talk to you if you would like. If you want to personal message your phone number to me or if you prefer just let me know and I will PM my number to you. I live in Texas so I am in CST.
Cricket