Possible Spread to Arm - What to Do
 

I have CRPS in my left leg & have been experiencing burning pain in my right elbow joint & generalized arm pain for the past few months. Told my pain doc but he seems to think the spread would happen leg to leg not to my arm & didn't seem to concerned.

This past weekend did alot of laundry & cookie decorating & had what I would call a RSD flare in my arm from fingers to shoulder. Burning, aching, weakness and couldn't hold anything in my right hand.

Called pain doc & he only offered meds. (I am seeing him in 4 days for a block for a Tarlov Cyst I have in spine.)

My concerned hubby has some questions on how to treat....Here are Paul's questions:
Hello! I would like to know if we put the arm in a sling to imobilize it for a day if that is a bad thing or will an extended period of non-use help settle the nerves in the arm?

NO IMMOBILIZATION! NO ICE!!! These are the basics.

Meds, including Lidoderm patches or cream are good to research. Warm water PT or baths with Epsom salts. A Stellate Ganglion Block via fluoroscopy by an experienced doc would be worth considering. Ketamine. HBOT. Etc...

And your doc has likely not seen much RSD if he's expecting spread to occur that way. It CAN, but it is not at all uncommon for it to happen in the manner you described.

Sling Use
 

You should do what helps you cope until you get to the doctor to discuss. Try to make it as comfortable as possible. If the problem is not from the arm why would you put it in a sling?

Thanks - I was able to talk to DR today and we are changing Thursday's block for my Tarlov cyst to a cervical stellate ganglion block to handle the possible RSD spread to my right arm and will follow up with PT for the arm.

This was my decision - he just kinda went along with what I wanted. Wondering if I am seeing the right doc. I loved him up until now.

Decided the pain in my butt (haha) could wait longer than the possibility of halting spread of RSD.

I am praying it works. I am angry my body is falling apart on me and feel almost as devastated as I did when first diagnosed.:mad: