Tingling and numbness
 

are in my arm near my elbow. I have been dealing with RSD in my left hand and fingers since 1994. Luckily no spread but now these new sensations have me a bit worried. My pcp said my RSD won't spread. I'm thinking it might be the change in the weather here in Ky. It seems it goes from summer to winter pretty abruptly.

I developed CRPS in my right hand/wrist following surgery in December 2012, so I've not had it for very long. Mine has spread pretty much to my entire arm though it is predominantly in my hand, wrist and shoulder. I do sometimes get tingling near my elbow. I'm not sure I would say I have numbness. I suppose I would say tingling and a strange feeling which I realise is not very helpful.

If you haven't had any spread since '94 I would certainly see a Neurosurgeon who can rule out any cervical spine problems causing this new area of numbness and tingling. Obviously it can be spread but, to assume that would not be wise considering so many nerve problems stem from the neck/spine.. just my opinion.

Your PCP is clearly uneducated in CRPS/RSD!

I agree that your PCP is uneducated in RSD/CRPS as it very well could spread. I developed RSD in 1991 in my face, I didn't experience spread until 2007 with a venipunture injury and 2009 with a hand injury...now I have it throughout my body.

You should get it checked since you are experiencing numbness, it could be a pinched nerve or something like that.

CRPS can most definitely spread! Mine started in my right wrist and hand and has now spread to both arms, shoulders, and left hand. Most of my pain centers around my right elbow and back of my right arm. As far as I understand there is a branching off of the nerves at those locations so, the misfiring can be more severe there. I use a heating pad at night wrapped in a silky pillow case to help ( sort of ) relax the muscles and stimulate the nerves to "relax" as well.

Mine started in the rt shoulder, arm, hand and the upper right quadrant of my torso, which I always thought we very odd I had burning in my right breast and my shoulder blade. Mine began spreading after one year, mirroring exactly to the upper right. Then at about two years I started feeling the burn in my feet and then it moved up both legs. It took several more years but eventually I felt it in my face and scalp, that is worse than the feet and when they flare. I also had a lot of burning in my stomach, at the same time that the RSD started, moving out of anesthesia after shoulder surgery. I had one of everything at the Gastro's, ultra sound, dye, x-ray and an endoscopy with a biopsy. I did the thing with no anesthesia and watched the monitor, it was vey odd. you could actually see the inflammation, small red patterned spots, all over the inside of my stomach. My Dr was pointing it out to me, there was something very visible there. The biopsy came back with nothing. 4 years later, just to make sure there was nothing growing... He did another biopsy of the inside of my stomach. Again, nothing, just inflammation and pain. There was no diagnosis and I have just been told to manage it along with the RSD.

I get sensations at my elbows, to me rather than a tingle, it feels like water is dripping from my elbow. It's very odd, because I don't have that sensation anywhere else. Water running from about two inches from the elbow to the outer joint and dripping off. So maybe a tingling in a way, but with this cool to Hollingsworth sensation that reminds me of water running over your skin in a slim stream. It is odd, how many different types of pain I feel. I get this one pain, predominately in the bicep area of my right arm... Imagine a really strong person, swinging a bat, as hard as thy can and having the bat impact you in the bicep. That sensation on impact. And it's stays at that impact level, it isn't limp act and then the sensation dissipating, it's ill blown and stays there for a day or more at a time, it used to be constant.

Thanks for your replies
 

I do think it is spreading. I am in a major flare now. Guessing my barometric pressure meter--my pain level--is on the move. I am going to speak with my pcp about referring me to a pain doc. I would like to find a pain doc that knows what rsd can do. It would be nice to talk to an informed doc. I would also like to check into ketamine.

So, that's where I am right now. I truly appreciate all of your replies and feel your support is a good way to cope with rsd as well. The more I learn the better I can get, and knowledge is the key to being treated properly.

Aww dang Kathy :(

Do you think it might be a pinched nerve from sitting and carving in one position maybe? This RSD is such a punishing thing, and it seems when you think it is about to be stable for a while....Bam it decides to just turn our world upside down again. :hug:

Will be keeping you in my prayers ;)

Have Thoracic Outlet Syndrome ruled out, folks...... with the hand, arm, shoulder stuff going on.......

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just diagnosed hypersensitivity central nervous system
 

hello Kathy...can you read my bio info and tell me your opinion,i am new on the site.i don't feel I have a true diagnosis...how is your walking? do you get twitches , weakness in legs, ankles do your feet and hands cramp, I also get cramps/spasms in my right calf and butt! any info and sharing would be appreciated...tg:)