Hello everyone, was wondering about RSD
 

Hi everyone,

Im new here, I was wondering if someone sufferers here could have a look at my symptoms and tell me what you think, my doctors are completely baffled.

I was in a car accident in september 2013, since then I have had pain and stiffness in my neck and have been diagnosed with a post concussive headache disorder after a bad head injury. I have also had CFS for three years but only really mild.

Anyway a few weeks ago I started getting pain in my arm, mainly lower arm and wrist, it was an intense ache, almost throbbing sort of pain. My fingers were also getting harder to move on my left hand but I didn't take much notice as its very cold here and I thought it was that. On Jan 26th (monday before last) this had got quite bad but I still just ignored it, when I woke up on the tuesday I could not move or feel my fingers on my left hand. Lucky I was going to hospital anyway for an appointment that day, by this time my hand was grey and a lot colder than the other. They thought it was a trapped nerve but an mri showed it wasn't, I'm waiting to see neurology but it cold be ages.


one doctor said it could possibly be RSD, even though they don't appear to be textbook symptoms. My hand looks normal sometimes but the pain in my wrist and arm is getting a lot worse. I wondered what you all think?

thanks x

Welcome minniemilkx. :Wave-Hello:

Hi Minnie,

Welcome! I am sorry for your reason for being here. I hope the forum helps you find some answers and community. Very odd with your symptoms, sounds so much like a disc/nerve root issue for sure! I don't know that MRI or any imaging for that matter is ALWAYS the bomb. There is interpreter skill involved and non-florid radiographic findings don't stand out to every interpreter. If you see neuro or neurosurgery take a disk of your imaging with you. I would call and really stress the urgency and acute change. If there is nerve compression in your neck that can be an urgent situation and they should have work in appointments for such a case. Also you might consider trying to get in with a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation doc if neuro can't see you. PMR should be familiar with nerve/musculoskeletal issues and may be able/willing to order a nerve conduction to see what is getting through your poor arm. If it's CRPS it's CRPS but any treatable cause has got to be ruled out.

Hang in there! Sending Healing Love :hug:, Littlepaw

Thanks Littlepaw,

I had all my blood work done today but Im still waiting to hear from neuro. My mum is taking me back to the doctor on monday. I really need to get this diagnosed, I haven't been able to go to university since it happened and Im going to Paris in March :(

According to The Budapest Criteria you need 3 of the 4 main symptoms

http://www.rsdhope.org/crps-symptoms.html

I would suggest you should think of it like, more signs and symptoms increase the likelihood of the diagnosis being correct.