New
 

i am new to this forum. i have just been diagnosed with rsd in atleast my right leg. i have gone through 4 doctors until i have found one that had me tested for rsd. it started with a slip at work 4 months ago where i sprained my knee and reinjured a previous back injury. the ortho that i have now has refered me to a rsd specialist to carry on the treatment as well as a spine specialist since in the last 4 months nobody has decided to look at my back. i had been looking at my symptoms before i was diagnosed and i thought rsd was a possibilty. i now have nerve issues that i have never had. i get very anxious about things and kinda lose control of my hands. i have also been depressed for the last 4 months. the one problem i have is that the one day i went back to work when was ordered to i could only work an hour and then the pain became so sever i ended up the the er and they gave me a shot of morphine which did nothing for the pain. i have a feeling that i will not be able to return to the job i was doing because when i walk to much or carry to much my body from mid back down becomes so painful. one problem i have to is that i cant sleep from the pain and the sensitivity my lower body now has. i have been put on percocet for pain but i have to take 2 pills every 2 hours to get rid of the pain. so for now i am just waiting to see the rsd specialist and the back specialist to find out whats wrong with that too.

Welcome Schappell to our family here...

I am sorry that you are suffering..it is a big chase trying to get the proper diagnosis then have a treatment in place..when you are not feeling well..My RSD began in my rt. leg also after a knee surgery... my best advice to you is to move quickly on a treatment plan..as the earlier this is caught the better chance of intervention can work and possibly give you a remission..a few tips first tho..do not use cold anything with your treatment...do a bunch of homework..read read and read some more about this..you will find a wealth of information here..everyone is great and don't be afraid to ask questions..and try to stay positive as our emotions play a large part on how our RSD acts..minimize stress , ya right, I know..in your life... and you have to keep moving..the pain is horrible, as we will all tell you but you must push threw your pain as if you don't you will sease up... RSD is mean and nasty..it does not waste it's time on the weak..We are here for you and plz. hang with us as we will always try to brighten your day just as you just brightened ours!!

Welcome!!! Kathy

thank you the nice welcome. i am glad i have finally found a doctor that knows what he is doing. i have to wait another week to make an appoinment with the other two doctors i am going to see. i do have a question though, does anybody know what other things i will have to worry about since i already have degenerative disk disease in my lower back and some other problems. will this problem make the rsd worse. and is it normal to have pain spread to my other leg and hips within 4 months.

I have CRPS 1, and experienced spread rather quickly after being diagnosed in June of 2008. Mine started in my rt shoulder after repeat shoulder surgeries for rotator cuff repair (50 weeks apart), and then moved quickly up to my cervical spine and occipital area. Within months my upper legs were painful to sit on and my feet hurt when I walked a lot. By the end of the first year I had been definitively diagnosed with spread to my right leg - it is larger than the left, has numerous knotted, painful varicose veins, is often discolored and just burns and throbs. Lidocaine infusions (I've had 7) calmed the pain down quite a bit for a while, until just recently. I have "cold" RSD - my extremities - hands and feet - are always freezing cold. Some people with RSD sweat a lot, I only did that for a month or two. I do get severe facial flushing sometimes.

My worst symptom is that I suffer from excrutiating headaches if I use my arms, especially the right one, for anything strenuous. So I tend not to use them. My right shoulder has become atrophied and is visibly smaller than the left, and my right arm is an inch and a half smaller around than the left.

Good luck to you. There are a lot of treatments, but no cure. The verry best thing you can do is to keep moving. use it or lose it. I know that when I am feeling lousy a brisk walk with my friends or my dog is usually the best medicine. Try to find a PT that has experience with RSD.

XOXOX Sandy

You are not alone... and I don't mean aliens!
 

So sorry to hear about your difficulties. I think that it is important to know that you are not losing your mind. I had to give up my job because of the physical aspects of it and understand what a huge and scary lose this is for you. I have been fortunate to find a good psychologist that has helped me through this and with the depression that goes along with it. I also recieved good advice from my surgeon to try and take some college classes. There are many careers that can be opened up to us with just a little more education. i am not a spring chicken by any means (almost 50), but it has given me something to work for and something else to focus on other than pain. I will graduate next February. Best wishes and comfort to you and yours.

Hi Schappell

Welcome !

I know all of this must seem overwhelming. We all have to remain hopeful that treatments will be successful. In your case it sounds like the problem was identified early. That can make a big difference in treatment. I hope that you are able to find some relief soon.

Hi welcome to the boards though I am sorry about your pain. As for the spread if it happens and to what degree depends so much on each person. Also if the condition gets worse or better. I know a few people who theres have gotten much better where one girl in particular went from years in a wheel chair to now being active. She had to go through a lot of treatments. I think so much is finding the right treatment which is different from person to person. It is really good you are treating this asap. For me and this is so much easier said then done but I try to stay in the day and not think about the what if's of the future with this condition. I tend to have an issue where any new symptom I fear the worst and am just trying to work on not going from A to Z with my fears. Hope you get into the rsd specialist soon