Herbs/ natural remedies for RSD/ CRPS?
 

Have any of you tried herbs or any natural remedies for your RSD? What has helped you?

Right now I am taking plenty of vitamins... magnesium (prevents depression, dizziness, muscle twitching and weakness), calcium (aids in neuromusclular activity), vitamin c (antioxidant, reduces inflammation and pain), b complex (helps restore healthy nerve function), milk thistle (helps to cleanse the liver while taking medications).

I am going to be getting a multivitamin and:
glucosamine (joint health, involved in formation of tendons, ligaments, bones)
chrondroitin (aids in creating cartilage in joints)
lecithin (helps nervous system, is involved with neurotransmitters)
vitamin E (antioxidant, maintains healthy nerves)
vitamin D for muscle spasms and pain


Any ideas of anything natural that helps with RSD/ CRPS, chronic pain syndromes or pain that has helped you or someone you know? TIA.

Also,are there any creams/ rubs that have helped you?

there are some very detailed remedy finders on these homeopathic websites.

http://www.abchomeopathy.com/simplified.php
http://www.hmedicine.com/news/guide/single/singles/all
http://www.webhomeopath.com/en/jsp/login.jsp

other
Medical/Wellness/Alternative
http://www.wellnessresources.com/pro.../protocols.htm
http://www.vitamin-insight.com/dieta...anagement.aspx
http://www.nwhealthsolutions.com/
http://www.mercola.com/index.html
http://www.consumerlab.com/

some help
 

Hi Vanessa--

I was wondering how you think the vitamins are helping? My daughter has RSD and is having a flare right now after spraining her ankle. She has really found using lavendar essential oils and one called 'aches and pains' has been helpful. We put it on her sock or in water to soak her foot (when she wants to) and also in lotion to rub on it.

Another quick note...in past flares she has really liked contrast baths--not this time. Very painful in the cold water.

Well, at this point I am not too sure if/ how they are helping. But, I have only been taking them for 2 weeks.

I am making a teeny bit of progress in the right direction, but I am not sure if it is from the vitamins, or if it is a combination of: physical therapy, medication (neurontin 300 mg. in the morning, 300 mg. in the afternoon and 600 mg. at night. My PM Dr. just upped the dose at night to see if it would help with sleeping/ pain.), vitamins (the aboved mentioned ones), and I am no longer using the ice at PT/ home.

Just wondering... how old is your daughter? I am 16 years of age. It has been hard for me to find younger people with RSD.

Constrast baths are HARD on me, too.:( For me, though hot water bothers.

I'll have to look up those rubs. Maybe they would be of help to me. Might as well try. :)

Hi Venessa,
I tried all sorts of herbal and natural remedies. Here's a short list of what helped and what didn't:

- accupunture - worked and amazingly relieved my pain for a period of time
- chinese herbal teas - helped
- meditation - wonderful
- passive yoga - helped to move my body when I couldn't
- hydrocolonics - to clean out the constipated mess that narcotics created
- cranial sacral therapy - helped
- applied kineisiology - possibly helped didn't hurt
- messages - enourmously helpful for cramps in foot and ankle
- Reliv - a nutritiuonal supplement with a protein shake was the only food I ate many days

If your interested in more info I'd be glad to help you out. I believe that all alternatives help in some way to help attempt to balance the un-balanced(sick) body.
Peace,
Lisa

helps?
 

Vanessa
I have made some progress since my latest round of RSD started in late August 2005.

I started massage therapy (with a great therapist who also does cranial sacral therapy) almost immediately. I go to this woman every time I have a significant injury - knew her before RSD. Now that I have RSD, and she works on me, she can usually get the swelling down some, the color more normal, and the temperature better. Sometimes it lasts a couple days, sometimes only half an hour. When I first hurt my arm (the cause of the current problems with RSD) I started going to her 3 times a week for 1-1/2 hours. Now, a year and a half later, I am going every other week for 1-1/2 hours. She works on my RSD areas pretty much the entire time. I credit her work with me for the fact that I am so much better. She worked on me the last time I had RSD (it was in my foot then)... and I got almost 100% better before I hurt my shoulder and it came back. By the way, when I hurt my shoulder, the pain and symptoms came back in my foot. That diagnose that it was indeed RSD.

When I went to a knowledgeable pain mgmt doctor last year who worked with Stanton Hicks, she said there has been some research showing certain massage therapy can prevent the sensitivity to touch if started early enough. She questioned me a lot about mine - as I did not have very much sensitivity the first time I had RSD, and have not had this time either. I wish I could go back to her - she was good... but her office was in a building that my insurance would not pay the charge for - so I had to pay out of pocket $450 each office call plus my co-pay. It was a billing nightmare. Well anyway.....

I have problems with anti-inflamatories. So I take ginger capsules. They seem to help. I know I get worse if I run out and don't get any for a couple weeks. I also take grapeseed extract after reading Vicc's posts a year or so ago. Flax seed oil too because it is a good anti-oxident. I take tumeric, which is a natural pain reliever. I can't tell if that really helps or not. But, it's supposed to build up over time, so maybe not taking it for a day or so would not tell me. I take a mulit-capsule from my health food store for joint health that has a lot of things in it like pineapple extract (bromiline? bromide? something like that)..... I am at work right now or I would check on the name of the exact supplement for you. Another thing I take if I am flaring is arnica.. and use arnica gel. Magnesium, zinc because it's good for muscle problems (I've had painful muscles - myofacial pain for 30 years). Glucosamine condroitin for arthritis and joint health.

And, I try to eat right.... lots of fresh foods, few processed foods. Very few white things... lots of color. I have never been much for drinking (and can't when taking topomax) so I drink a little grape juice each day since I know wine is good for you.

I agree with lisa... meditation can really help. I've mentioned before that the book/cd combo Breakthrough Pain by Shinzen Young was a real turning point for me. I think the book, which is not very long, really helped me understand that you can separate your mind from the suffering that comes from pain. If you can take the fear out of the pain, it becomes much more bearable. Young really helped me understand a lot about pain, and what I could do to help myself through calm thoughts, breathing and a few minutes meditation.

good luck
Jules

I sure would love any info you have... :)

For how long did the acupuncture work for you?

Which teas do you reccomend?

Did you do the massages yourself?


The more info the better. Knowledge is power! TIA.

RSDmom
 

Is this the rub you mean???
http://cgi.ebay.com/DEEP-HEAT-RUB-10...QQcmdZViewItem

Hi Vanessa--
She uses lavendar and 'aches and pains' from a company called Wyndmere. She also uses the brand Aura Cacia. These brands aren't special in any way other than they are what we have at our local food co-op. I am guessing any health food store etc would carry some sort of essential oil. I know in our area, home sales of essential oils are popular too. I will have her post some websites she uses to mix and match them.

I googled "aches and pains natural pain relief"
i used the images search option- but if you click on a pic it will take you to the site where you can read more about the product-
http://images.google.com/images?svnu...ef&btnG=Search

I've also heard....
 

I've also heard that sunflower seeds are a pain reliever. Anyone tried it? I'm sure it's not very strong but being that it's natural it might be worth a try. When I say sunflower seeds I'm talking the home grown natural ones, not those processed jobbies from the store. Think we'll have some pretty sunflowers growing this next summer! :D

My accupuncturist removed all of my pain, needle by needle to each body part - starting at my ankle and moving up to my face. It was absolutely amazing! The best pain relief I ever had. Way better than any narcotic I ever tried.

Studies have shown that accupuncture is equal to narcotics for pain relief.
The issue is that you need to find the "right" accupuncturist. The one I went to was at www.newlifehealthcenter.com. I don't know how you would find someone like him. He has been practicing for many yrs(he's got to be in his 70's) and people who have no hope go to him and some get better from cancer and other terminal diseases.

PM me if you want to know more about going to see him. You can actually live there and be treated with meditation, teas, accupuncture, yoga, fasting,...all sorts of alternative treatments to get your health back.

He made me a special tea specific to my symptoms. It wasn't really tea but chinese herbs made into a liquid that he called tea but it was really medicine and tasted like sh..t! But I could feel it working in my body. A very strange experience.

Massages I got from a massage therapist who I would let work on my foot for a whole hour. Then my physical therapist did alot of massage too to my foot and ankle. After learning how they did my foot, I could do it myself but not nearly as good as them. They got in really deep where I couldn't do cuz it hurt and I'd stop before getting there cuz I was afraid to hurt myself.


Peace and hope,
Lisa

Thanks a lot, Jo55!
 

Thank you VERY much!! :) :Thanx: I appreciate that.

Natural Cures for RSD
 

My husband did some research on medical research sites and they said to try NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) which is an amino acid. I tried it for 2 months, I saw a slight decrease in stiffness of my joints but was slightly sick to my stomach after taking the dosage. Not sure if it works but some swear by it. There is also DMSO cream, rubbed on my hands but for me this made the sensitivity worse. But there is research and each person is different. :)

Can you please tell me more about the DMSO cream? TIA!

Welcome here!! :) :) I read your other post, and I wanted to say "hi". I also have RSD in both of my arms. I know how that feels... Mine started in my right side and then moved to my left.

Dmso
 

Hi Vanessa:

DMSO is used as an anti-oxidant and supposedly helps block pain signals just under the skin. So sensivity is lessened. Some people do react to it and you should always ask your doctor. It also is used as a transfering agent, so you must apply to clean skin, it will take anything applied on top of it deep into tissue so you have to be careful not to touch medication or such with this stuff on you. There is a lot of controversy on this medication but it can be bought online. I bought Nature's Gift DMSO w/Aloe Vera at www.herbalremedies.com. I researched which brand for about a week. This seemed the most pure and best
to try. My doctor approved saying it wouldn't hurt me.

This is something I saved from my searches "When applied to the skin, DMSO penetrates rapidly and will pass into the tissue below. Scientists believe DMSO may produce a wide range of pharmacologic actions, including anti-inflammation (reduces swelling), local analgesia (relieves pain), bacteriostasis, diuresis, cholinesterase inhibition, potentiator of the action of concomitantly administered drugs, influence on collagen, nonspecific enhancement of immunity, vasodilation, and lessening of adhesiveness of blood platelets."

Some online sources of information about this:
http://www.arthritis.org/resources/a...plorations.asp
http://www.medicinehouse.com/guidepages/PRrsd.html

Yes, it also is a type of paint thinner, but so are bugs! ;)
I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have more questions. I must have about 25 links on RSD.
Smiles,
Septmystic

MSM works for me
 

Along with other natural herbs, I take MSM. I believe it is in the same family as DMSO. Because it is sulfur based, some people cannot tolorate it. It works very well for me. I read about a 20 year study at OHSU in Portland on MSM and I liked what I read.
Stephen

Hi,

I'm new to this website. I am 15 yrs. old with RSD in the ankle, foot, and leg. I would love to connect with someone who may be going through similar physical and emotional experiences as me. Take care, I hope you feel better.

Kali

Hi Vanessa,
I have used Skullcap tintcure for when the nerve pain does get to much. I take 10 to 30 drops, 3 times day. St. John's Wort in Virgin Olive Oil works, numbs the skin. I Have tried this too. But I don't use it much. Hope this helps.

Annick

Hi Kali,

Just wanted say hi and welcome, we have a few people around your age here... just ask anything you want, make yourself at home :)
all the best!

Oh, hello, Kali!!!
 

I'd love to talk more with you!! :hug:

I know what you are going through... I was diagnosed in fall of 2006 and have been in physical therapy even longer, and I am on medications. It sure is rough.

I sent you a PM... I hope to talk with you more soon. :hug: :hug:

rsd
 

Kali, My niece, Kathryn, has had RSD for 5 years. She is 20. She fell off a horse, went for surgery to repair a torn muniscus and apparently developed RSD. She now has a pain pack where she pushes a button to dispense pain medication.
I just wrote to a natural healer and he believes she has a staph infection. He recommended a supplement called Nature's Sunshine PLS-2. .
Don't know for sure if she is going to try it but I am hoping she will. Kathryn (she was named after me)

10 year old nephew with RSD
 

Hello,

My nephew was diagnosed with RSD in June. He has primarily left foot and leg leg pain, but now it has spread to the right side.

We would love any advice you can offer!

We have tried the following with some success (any advice here is helpful):
- physical therapy
- swimming in heated pools
- light therapy
- foot baths (warm water)
- electrical stimulation machine at home
- accupuncture (just a few times)

What suggestions do you have for the following that we'd like to learn more about:
- nutrition (supplements and vitamins? fish oil?)
- diet
- blood testing or other testing - are we missing anything?
- serotonin or other chemical imbalances that may effect how a body handles pain?

(PS - We are in the San Francisco Bay Area, so any support groups or other families willing to share stories would be great to hear about! )

Any help would be great. Many Thanks and Happy New Year to All,
Sue

Hello Sue and Welcome to Neurotalk - you will meet many great people here who I am sure will be more than happy to help you in anyway they can!!

I am SO very sorry to hear about your nephew ((hugs)) and I really hope that he can find something that will help him and ease some of his pain and other symptoms real soon.

I also suffer from RSD, I developed it when I was 12 years old after I sprained my left ankle and am now 13. The RSD has since spread to my right arm after another injury. I have tried so many treatments and procedures including medications, nerve blocks and Physical Therapy but nothing has helped that much for me. I have been on 2 Intense Physical Therapy Programs and the first one really helped me - before I went there, I was wheelchair bound and I am now able to walk short distances although I still have pain and the second one didn't help me at all. I am supposed to go back onto the program in January for my leg casting but I don't want to as I have read so many articles stating that casting can make RSD worse and it really scares me!!!

There isn't really anything you should change in your diet because of the RSD however Dr Hooshmand (one of the leading Doctor that treats RSD) has a website that states that with RSD, you SHOULDN'T eat chocolate, drink caffeine etc as it can make the pain worse. I haven't noticed an increase in pain whilst eating chocolate but everyone with this disease is different!

The link to the website if you would like to take a look is:

http://rsdrx.com/four_f's_diet.htm

With Blood Work, it is extremely important that you don't inject directly into the limb that has RSD. My Doctor didn't know this and he did a nerve block into my leg which has RSD and I developed some pretty major complications. When having blood-work, please make sure the doctor knows about RSD and takes blood from the limb that isn't affected!!

If you have any questions, please let me know, I am more than happy to help you if I can and I know how scary it is dealing with RSD, especially at such a young age.

All my love and best wishes to you and your nephew,
Alison.

the pineapple enzyme is called "bromalain" (I think), but I read about it in Mehmet Oz's books. Very hard to find.
Lori Lee

Hi all,

A month before I had surgery on my rsd foot (this past Aug 08) I started to take the following vitamins:

• Multi-Vitamin
• Vitamin B complex 50 mg
• Calcium 500 mg
• Vitamin D 400 mg 3 x per day
• Vitamin C 1000 mg 3x per day
• Fish Oil 1000 mg 3 x per day

Post surgery I started Serrapeptase 90,000 I.U. 3 x per day an anti-inflammatory enzyme. Since taking this enzyme I have much improved range of motion and less pain.

Is this improvement a result of this product, the fact that the metal was removed from my foot, the vitamins, the increased frequency of IV lidocaine or all of the above? I'm not sure but I'm happy with results overall. Still not pain free but it is very manageable.

I just returned from my vacation so I am feeling the effects of flying. After my outbound flight it took 3 days to calm down the heightened sensitivity, the rest of my vacation I was in good shape and able to walk with limited pain and full range of motion. We just got home yesterday and I will have to see how I do on this end. We came back to 4 feet of snow and unable to drive to our house. It was a real challenge just to get into the house from the street.

Recently my PT pointed out to me that the new nail growth on my rsd foot appears to be much healthier. There is a clear pre/post surgery distinction line on my toe nails especially on my big toe.

Overall I feel healthier and stronger so I'll stick to this.

Happy New Year to you all.

Haven't tried yet, but this looked like a good site to check out for those with chronic nerve pain. http://www.blessedmaineherbs.com/chpare.html

Just had my first massage today. It was very interesting. It felt like my therapist hands were on fire, not my skin. It was difficult to deal with at first but by the end of the hour I actually felt better. Burning returned a couple hours later, but I can see how desensitizing can work. I tan too and that was interesting a couple times as were mosquito bites. Bug bites burned for a long time even taking benadryl. Who would believe this? You can't make this stuff up! New to the issue so sorry if you have heard all this before.
Jerie

Help please...
 

Hi, I am Tyler, I am 19 and I have stage 3 CRPS... The constant pain every day for 3 years now has been manageable... But, now I really feel like I am losing my composure. I think it has something to do with my recent break up... Struggling to keep the pain in my knee/leg under control and the emotional pain of this is too much. If anyone has anything that WORKS to reduce the pain and sensitivity I feel 24/7, it would be much appreciated...

Here are some facts about my issue:

-Extreme sensitivity to touch, fabric, cold, hot
-Pain worsens with emotion: sad, irritated, bummed, irritated, mad, any negative emotion
-Spasms about 5-10 times a day, more when weather changes

Any questions, please ask. Any advice, PLEASE provide!

I've been taking multi-vitamins, grapeseed extract, vit E, Vit C, calcium, hyaluronic acid and omega 3s for years. I don't know whether they help or not but an increase in pain scares me so much that I'm afraid to quit taking them.

Here is an interesting new article explaining DHA (a long chain Omega-3 fatty acid) and how it works for chronic pain.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0717164721.htm

Marlene from our PN board found it and posted this link today.;)

re: Homeopathic Remedies for CRPS
 

Have you tried Hypericum Perforatum? It is a homeopathic remedy for pain or other sensation that follows the nerve path. For example when touching one's ankle might cause pain or a burning sensation in the entire leg or even in the back.

Other uses for this remedy described at *edit*
If you have tried this remedy, please post the results of your taking it.

It is available as sub-lingual pellets/tablets and also as a topical spray.

Note that all internal homeopathic remedies must be taking on an empty stomach and clean mouth (and not after a recent tooth brushing).