Good morning.

Hi Daniella.

I don't feel that my condition is RSD due to the fact that I don't have any of the " classic " symptoms other than burning pain. No accelerated nail or hair growth, changes in color or temp ect.. While I do have swelling in several toes, it is localized and that has subsided over the past six months in several of them. I guess only time will tell.

No drugs prescription or otherwise and thank you for your kind words re addiction. While it would certainly be better to abstain from alcohol entirely given my history, I am currently able to enjoy having wine with dinner or beers and burgers without it being an obsession. I guess only time will tell there as well.

Dahlek,

The " knots " are swollen soft tissue inflammations around the metatarsal heads where they meet the toe bones. I did have a flu like illness in April of 2007 that the rheumatologist I saw and my GP suspect of being the precipitating factor in my development of reactive arthritis and everything since then. TX for your input and hugs!

Mrs. D,

The " knots " I have are located at the metatarsal toe joints as mentioned earlier. They do extend just forward of the joints toward the toes in the ball of the foot, but they are not on the toes. The toes forward of the knots are the ones with the worst swelling and dysthesia. Currently there are three; used to be five. I can only hope that these will subside like the others did last fall with the dexamethasone injections.

I checked my medical records re lyme testing. I tested negative with my GP in 2007 and again with the rheumatologist in 2008. GP doesn't feel that another test is necessary at this time given the timeline of developments.

Haven't been tested, but I have zero symptoms of sarcoidosis so I'll proceed with the Vit D when it arrives. I actually have very high hopes for the D3 supplementation including the neuralgia pain and eczema skin condition(s).

Thanks again to all.

Also thought I would share these images. I found them very useful in visualizing what is going on with the nerves in my feet.

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Thanks for the clarification.

That spurred me (bad pun) to look for more foot related pain sites and I found this one:

http://www.footdoc.ca/www.FootDoc.ca...atarsalgia.htm

It is pretty interesting.

I am not saying you do or don't have rsd but when I was dx I did not have the nail issue though now I do but it took years for that to happen. I did not have the color changes but do now in extremes. Again not saying this is your dx and myself and others on rsd forum have multiple dx. Like I have PN as well. Did you say you had been to a neurologist?

Have you been to a Rheumetologist? spelling wrong . Nave you had any kind of rash? I described your symptons to a doc friend and suggest you see a Rheu. doc. I drank heavily before my back Fusion and have nt had a drink since my Fusion because I am almost pain free. I was an emotional drinker too, just be aware. No bashing from me. Good luck

Update for anyone who might be interested. I am told that my condition is due to psoratic arthritis. I tested negative for RA factor several times in past but that doctor discounted the possibility of psoratic arthritis because I don't / didn't have psoriasis. A different physician now tells me that I have psoratic arthritis despite the lack of skin psoriasis. My oldest sister does have psoriasis. Both doctors were aware of this. TX to all and have a nice day.

This is a long shot, but have you researched Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT)? People with CMT develop hammer toes. Do you happen to have high arched feet? Anyone else in your family with PN?

Good luck to you.

It could be possible that you have sero-negative rheumatoid arthritis. I do. It was diagnosed by my doctor who is from Russia and then by the rheumatology dept at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. This was done with x-rays because sero-negative means nothing shows in the blood. They did matching x-rays of both sides of my body and I had the markers for sero-negative rheumatoid as well as a spondylarthropy. (arthritic lower spine) My sed rate is normal. I've had both knees replaced and both little fingers have joints replaced. I am currently in remission from the rheumatoid thanks to methotrexate and Humira and low dose prednisone. I hope some of this helps.

Also I agree with Glenntaj. That B12 is a red flag to me. Way too low.

Billye