Saw a podiatrist yesterday
 

It was a great experience. He was a very proactive doctor, even if he was just a consult. I only needed a different "shoe" to wear when I leave the house because I've been still in the boot from the original injury. It was too much to wear now with no more fracture or sprain, etc.

Well, he knew his stuff. He got me a fracture shoe to wear. He was appalled at how worker's comp was treating me and was going to write a strongly worded letter to them about how denying my doctor's request for the nerve blocks was tantamount to malpractice.

X rays show the little dots of loss of bone density (forget the fancy word for it) that happens in CRPS). He also wrote me a prescription for lidocaine patches I can put on the worst part on my foot.

But the biggest thing he said was "If you do only one thing, the most important thing is put your foot in warm water and move it around. Warm water and move it!" So, that's my homework.

Big take-away - remember you HAVE to move your affected limb. HAVE TO.

I believe this warm water therapy to be good advice, but I found it hard to do, because I couldn't make it to the bathtub without help getting upstairs and then I needed help getting in and out of the tub. This is hard to do several times a day when you are in severe pain and alone.

My husband and I tried basins, but carrying a basin full of water is unwieldy. He eventually filled the basin on the floor from a bucket he filled at the sink, but then he faced the difficulty of emptying it. Also, the water got cold, much too fast. I found it unbearable.

If you can find a heated foot jacuzzi that would be better than a thin walled basin. Best would be a jacuzzi for your whole body. They have inflatable ones, not sure if they are too pricey.

Also I used Epsom Salts in the water whenever I could muster up the strength to do the water exercises. But you may not need it if you use Magnesium Oil. My sister gave me a spray bottle of MO and it is amazing stuff for a vast number of ailments. I wish I had it sooner.

The X-ray with the patchy spots of Osteoporosis is undeniable proof that you have CRPS, which is why this doctor is fully on your side, he knows your diagnosis is not based only on observation, so there is no good reason for WC to be waffling.

Don't you guys get treated for the osteoporosis? I did. I got calcitonin first, which is a treatment for CRPS in Belgium, then my rheumatologist put me on bisphosphonates (which are for recalcitrant CRPS).

Nevertheless I never got my mobility back, because the CRPS was too far gone in my legs. It is what it is. :(

It seems to be real common to not treat for osteoporosis or osteopenia here in the States until it shows up, even if you have an issue like CRPS or diabetes where it is commonly seen. My primary care physician refused to give me a referral to go see an endocrinologist that specializes in bone mineral resorption, even though my orthopedic surgeon gave me a script to see one as soon as I can. I have since switched insurance and primary care physicians. The osteoporosis has only worsened since my ortho originally suggested I see an endocrinologist. The bones in my foot and my tibia hardly even show up on an x-ray anymore. Some of that comes from not using my foot, some from the CRPS. I will finally be getting in to see the endo next month.

Glad to hear you found a good podiatrist Becca. The warm pool is a great tool to use if you have access to one. Like Bio mentioned, even a small foot whirlpool tub helps. If you can not tolerate the water or jets, each time you use it, slowly try increasing the amount of time you use it.

Glad you have a knowledgeable doctor. Movement is SO important. Ever since I did PT when I was in a wheelchair...I now do a lot of the seated exercises where I move my foot and hands without even thinking about it. Sometimes I forget to move my hands when I am holding something...and that results in so much pain after a while. I was doing a walk through with our district manager once at work and I was holding a notepad to take notes. My fingers locked in their position while we were walking and I was in tears by the end of it...could not uncurl my fingers and the pain was awful! So yes...definitely HAVE to move the affected limb/limbs. I also take warm baths with Epsom salts when I can because that also helps. Before my current shoulder issues I was taking a bath at least once a day...sometimes twice on bad days...and that is one of the treatments that I am missing the most right now. I hope that things get better for you and that you get the relief you need soon.

You can read in my signature it spread to my arms/hands in 2008. Well, I got treatment for that (salmon calcitonin). First the vice feeling and ice cold was up to my shoulder (esp. my right arm). Then after months of the injections (and not quitting after 3 months), the cold was up to my elbow.

Then it took about a year for the cold to get out of my arm completely.

It is not stable, however. And when I type, I feel it, believe me I feel it! Esp. the stiffness in the joints (up to the shoulder) and movement of the fingers.

But it got better, thank GOD!

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to do a thing for the mobility in my legs, not that I notice it making a difference. I still get flare-ups too (just got over one in the last couple of weeks). It keeps my temperature more regulated, which is an altogether *great* thing.

Anyway, that's my experience.

In CRPS it's important to treat the symptoms, and for bone density and bone health, sorry, but you need a rheumatologist referral.