RSD - swelling not going down
 

Hi all - its Alison here again,
I was just wondering whether any one can recommend any medication that can reduce swelling.
I have had swelling in my right leg for about 2 months now, is this usual in RSD? Is it something I should be worried about? or is it just RSD playing another trick on me?
When my consultant first saw my swelling he admitted me into hospital to be tested for compartment syndrome and DVT. The tests came back negative however it did show that I had muscle swelling and swelling around the muscles.
I have been taking Ibuprofen which is not helping me, my mums ordered grape seed extract for me to try, but I was wondering if there is anything else I could try as well.
Please write back
Many thanks
Alison
Pain free hugs. :grouphug:

Hi Allison,

As difficult as it may sound , keeping it moving will help to decrease the swelling by encouraging the blood flow.
If I am brave my physio will do some deep tissue massage----yes, it is very painful but it can reduce the swelling.
Also the use of some type of tubigrip applied before you put your leg to the floor will help also.
This is something that often requires desensitisation to enable you to put it on but there are some less constrictive ones that will give light support and you may be able to work your way up to a tighter one.
I take diuretics but not for my RSD--they make very little or no difference to my neurogenic oedema.

Good luck with it
Tayla:hug:

Ali,

You can try tubigrip or compression stockings (these really help to keep the swelling down).
HTH!

OK..I have to ask, what is tobigrip? How do you use it? I have the katamine cream that I swear by.

Mary

Hi Mary,
Tubigrip is an elasticised pressure stocking that comes in varying grades of compression.
Does the Ketamine cream help your swelling as well as your pain?
Take care
Tayla:hug:

Re swelling
 

Hi - Its Ali here
Many thanks for all your posts, I will keep you updated on how I go with the grape seed extract, I will also try and get some tubigrips, although it will hurt my leg.

RE
 

LostMary,
A tubigrib is like a stocking that you apply to your limb that is swollen and it should help to reduce swelling. They are also used for sprains. Many health centres use them before putting plaster of paris on a pot. They are a bit like a long sock.
Hope this helps
Ali

Re
 

Mum just been in my bedroom and says that the swelling on my leg is worse. What should we do??
Thanks
Alison

Hi Ali

The swelling on my legs lasted years - and they are still slightly swollen. But they tripled in size for several years. The OT's used to treat mine the same way they would for women who had lymphodema. Therefore we used a flotron (ouch!), massage, tried tubigrip and pressure bandaging, elevating my legs at night and in my wheelchair, (legs above the heart) and increased the amount of water I was drinking to flush all the toxins out of my system more. I had pitted swelling so if you put you finger into the swelling and removed it then you would be left with a deep hole in the swelling which could take minutes and minutes to slowly fill back up.

So basically. Don't go insane worrying about it - just makes the pain feel worse. To reduce it try lying in bed at night with them on pillows so that you legs are elevated above your heart - one thing my physio suggested to me was that we lean my legs against the wall with the rest of me flat on my back on the bed so that we could get my legs right up to get gravity to help move it down. Also contracting and moving your legs - even if you aren't walking, will help, such as by tensing and untensing your calf muscles etc - and getting the physio/ your mum to do the same. Try something like pressure bandaging/ tubigrip/ anti DVT stockings if you feel like it and drink more.

Hope this is some help, but don't get too stressed about it.

Frogga xxx