Just Poking Around
 

I have been poking around the RSD forum reading about all of your experiences, I have lots more to read but just wanted to say HI. In the new year I will be seeing a doc to determine whether or not I have RSD. My Massage Therapist has mentioned this as a possibility to me so I talked with my GP and we decided that it was worthwhile seeing someone to get a diagnosis one way or the other. This past year I had rib removal surgery for TOS and it has been a very long recovery, one that is still continuing. While some of my TOS symptoms have diminished I am still experiencing temperature changes, swelling and increased pain. I still experience horrible neck pain and headaches as well.

Any words of wisdom that can be passed along are appreciated.

Hi there,
I am so sorry about everything that you are going through. I really hope that you don't have RSD.
What sort of treatment are you having at the moment?

Sorry that I can't help you but I just want to say hi and welcome/

Please let me introduce myself:
My name is Alison, I am 12 years old and I suffer from RSD in my left leg and right arm. I first developed RSD in my left leg on the 16th March after an ankle sprain, I was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS type 1 4 months later. I then had a Guanethidine nerve block which caused me to lose my balance (I can't walk, my leg shoots out in front of me)
2 months later I was prescribed 'amitriptyline' to try and help me sleep. I suffered from a nasty side effect of "blurred vision" this resulted in a knock to my right arm, I was diagnosed with RSD 2 weeks later. My arms been in remission, but unfortunatley I knocked my arm 2 weeks ago and the RSD's flaired back up, although it IS getting better.

If you need anything let me know
Thanks
Alison

Hi Jamy,
 

I have RSD from TOS surgery. I have heard that TOS and Carpel Tunnel Surgery are more likely to bring on RSD then any other surgeries. Other surgeries can cause it though and they can definately cause it to spread.

Another thing you might want to check on is Fibro. It too comes along with RSD a lot of times and it can cause all over pain such as in the neck and headaches.

I hope they will try a block on you when you go to be diagnosed. That can sometimes help put the RSD into remission as well as help to diagnose it. Some have had bad experiences with the blocks but there could be other reasons for that such as meds used or the way it's done but I believe they are a good step in getting the remission. Something else about the blocks, if you do end up having RSD and if you need other surgeries, ask for a block before the surgery. It helps stop the spread of the RSD.

Another thing that some Pain Drs. are doing nowadays are triggerpoint injections with meds such as lidocaine, zylocaine, some use steroids but they can only do 3 of them a year. They do them in the areas of the pain and they do work a lot of the times.

I am glad you found the forum and I do hope you stick around. I hope you don't have the RSD though. That would be even better.

Glad you found us.

Ada

Thanx for your replies.

Ali - currently I am doing Physio, Chiro and Massage which seem to help, if I miss a week I feel my pain levels creep up. I am also on various meds for pain control.

Dreambeliever - I will do some reading on Fibro. A friend of mine was recently diagnosed with it so perhaps I can pick her brain as well. I hadn't even considered reading up on Fibro, I got so caught up in reading RSD sites. My doc seemed kinda perplexed when I mentioned RSD but was happy to make me a referral to someone else for diagnosis.

I wonder why surgeons don't warn that TOS surgery can lead to RSD? I have heard of many other TOSers having RSD - maybe they just don't want to scare us off?!

Thanx again!