RSD and Clothing
 

Are there any particular clothing or material that bothers people with RSD?

I saw a sweater and a dress that I knows she would like but she been acting like the only clothing that she is allowed to wear are sweats and tshirts.

Is this a RSD thing or a girl thing?

I am planning to take her out to a special place and I got her clothing sizes from her mom to get her a dress.

Its a both thing. If she is more comfy in the softness of the sweats then I can understand. I have RSD in my left knee and starting to go down toward my foot. Really soft clothes feel better also lighter weight clothes feel better when it hurts. I have a pair of sweat pants I have had for a long time and as soft as they are now I feel more comfy wearing them than I do really nice clothes that are stiff and abrasive to the skin. Also the looser the clothes are the less likely they are to rub.

I have CRPS in my left side, especially my leg and foot, and clothing is a BIG issue!!!! As time goes on and my symptoms have worsened and spread, fashion becomes less important and comfort is everything... I wear the same soft jersey fabric trousers nearly all the time, in two different colours. If I wear different trousers it can only be for a limited time.

I had to shop for shoes today, I've been wearing ultra soft and comfy snow boots, but I can't do that when the weather warms. I selected the shoes in the end based 90% on comfort, and only when I had chosen the style did any colour choice come into it.

The thing is, if I'm not comfortable then my pain levels rise very quickly, to the point where I don't enjoy myself at all and even have to just quit and go home... I'm betting your girlfriend does NOT want that to happen.

I very rarely wear a dress out because I would have to wear smarter shoes...and smart = uncomfortable = pain. I would guess that your GF has a limited choice of clothes she can tolerate, hence the limited wardrobe we sometimes seem to have!!

This is a sticky issue for a woman, because the CRPS will already have seemed to take away so much of the things others take for granted. She may well feel anxious already about her wardrobe, lack of perceived style, comfort etc. I would tread carefully here and see what she would be comfortable with. If you present her with an outfit that you have decided is suitable, she may dislike it for reasons of both/either comfort or style, but not want to let you down or seem awkward by expressing that. She might then not enjoy herself or even suffer because of it.

Tell her the occasion, and let her decide what to wear. Whatever she decides, accept it happily. She will already have been through the wringer just deciding to go, thinking what she can wear, whether it'll hurt and she'll need extra meds before, if you'll like it, if her parents approve, if anyone else notices her 'issues'.....etc etc etc :eek:

Sorry if this complicates things!!

Bram.

It does not really complicate things for me. It actually makes things more simpler to understand. She has lost a lot of weight and have not really dated for a long time.

Your advice give me the understanding that choosing the wrong clothing for her can make her more anxious and she starts getting into more pain.

Now how about if she tries on the same dress of her choice several times and keep looking at her self, smiles, and asking me what I think. Do you think that is a dress she would want to wear even with RSD?

BTW, she is a lot older than 18. :) I think her mom thinks it is cute of me trying to get her dressup a little instead of her old sweats.. lol.

Clothes definitely matter! I have RSD in my face, both hands, both shoulders, left arm, left leg, both feet, abdomen and head. Winter was much easier with sweats and Uggs. I just bought some capris that are like t-shirt material and have an elastic waist for summer. Buttons are an issue. I stopped working at the end of December (because of my RSD), but when I was still working I stopped wearing skirts and dresses because of the shoes. There are many dresses out there that are plenty comfortable and I would rather wear them over pants and a shirt, it all depends on the style and material...and shoes!

I think if you buy her something that she picks out and is comfortable for her to wear, she would feel better in it and appreciate it more. If you pick it out and she is not comfortable in it, she might have a hard time explaining or expressing that to you.

I commend you for taking the time and caring enough to inquire about RSD. There are not many out there that are that supportive and caring like that. I am very lucky that my husband is one of those good ones too :)
Nanc

Lol, it is lovely that you want her to look and feel nice, I'm sure it will be fine. Letting her choose and then getting it for her is lovely, and the interest and approval of your man when choosing clothes is rare and special!!

And yes, if she's smiling and moving round in the dress, and keeps putting it on, then it means she likes it but wants to know you like her in it :winky: Tell her she looks lovely and she'll glow happily for hours.

I'm over 40, but I don't think any woman EVER stops wanting to look nice or be appreciated when she makes an effort to look good!

I hope you both have a lovely time :)

Bram.

I definetly have issues with clothing for ex I can only wear one type of socks which I turn inside out because they are softer. I also only can wear tennis shoes. I think everyone is different as stated from here.
I do know for me that the more I stay away from a material the harder it is for me to adjust again. There are some things though I just can't tolerate and for someone else to purchase for me would be near impossible. When I have had a nicer outing like a special dinner to go to my anxiety does rise because I have no clue how I will tolerate the items I need to wear.
If you are helping her maybe do some pre online browsing. You may have to get a little creative.

I would say it's both a girl and an RSD thing.

Personally...I have a few dresses that I like and they are all knit dresses (made out of t-shirt like material). None of them are tight and only have elastic at the waist where it comes in a little but are not tight. I am super sensitive and it really is small things that can make clothing wearable or unwearable for me.

Same goes for shoes. I can't wear most gym shoes because they just hit my ankle in the exact wrong spot. I found a pair I could wear so long as I didn't thread the laces through the top holes...and then I bought two more pairs in other colors. I can also wear ballet flat type shoes because they are completely open on top and don't hit my ankle in the bad spots. Problem with those? I am SUPER sensitive to air movements and cold so if I'm going anywhere with A/C I need to have my ankle covered. I have a nice fabric ankle brace that doesn't look particularly sexy...but it does protect my ankle from the cold or air movements. So that's an option. I also need to wear sweaters or sweatshirts, a scarf, and gloves to protect my upper body for the same reasons.

I am far from picky from a style perspective...but my RSD makes certain things necessary. I NEVER wore fashion scarves before but now have quite the collection of them. I try to have fun with them now...but wish I didn't need them at all. Oh well...such is life.

I love when my boyfriend buys me things...but he's very aware of the sorts of things that I can and cannot wear. In time you will figure it out. Until them...maybe see if you can sort out what her needs are and what things absolutely do NOT work for her and then you might find something that works. But if sweats are her norm...maybe see if you can find a knit dress or one made out of similar material that looks nice. You'd be amazed what they can do with that sort of material these days.

Its really a comfort thing for me, I used to wear jeans all the time, but after my condition really worsend then I started wearing sweat pants and tshirts. I cant wear long sleaves anymore eather because it hurts my arms. but when I do dress up or wear jeans then im really uncomfortable and as soon as I get home then i change. I already deal with a boat load of pain and I need some comfort, and clothing is a big part of it.

Senathon
I agree with everything said here. Fabrics and design do matter. Think soft and comfortable.

Just to add one more thing ...
I cannot stand when my slacks/jeans hit the top of my feet. Sounds odd, but it is really painful for me. Fortunately, the weather is changing for the better. I opt for capris or shorts. If I'm going someplace nice, I opt for a loose nit dress.