[debbiehub]

I am feeling such despair- My arms are getting so weak and now my right hand hurts and feels like it wants to curl up- I am doing everything to keep it open but its hard. If anyone has recommendations please help. I am still trying to get on baclofen- I am up to 10mg a day and trying to get to 30 but it gives me a headache,,,,,I HATE THIS!!!! I am still working and have to be able to use my right hand,,,,,,

HELP

Debbie

[Abbie]

Hi Deb...

My hands have done this off and on...

I've hand my hands curl up so tight that they were even causing my wrists to curl...

I know this will hurt...it did me...but, you have to keep moving your hands as much as possible... AND stretch them as close to flat as you can get them---stretching worked best for me while in a warm bath...the warmth helped ease the muscles/tendons/ligaments.

A friend of mine suggested holding on to a ball... bigger than a tennis ball does best... I often used a 4-5 inch nerf ball....


Abbie

Doing this has saved my hands from a permanent curl...

[kathy d]

Hi Debbie,
I like what Abbie says to do and that is stretching. I try to do it as often as I can. My hands are always curled up now and the only position I feel a tiny bit of relief is to lie on my left side curled up in a fetal position with my hands folded into my arms into my chest. It is ridiculous but stretching helps...even while you are lying in bed just stretch different parts of your body out. I try to stretch my hands but boy when I stop does it ever hurt. Hang in there and keep on stretchin'!
Take care,
kathy d

[loretta]

Originally Posted by debbiehub

I am feeling such despair- My arms are getting so weak and now my right hand hurts and feels like it wants to curl up- I am doing everything to keep it open but its hard. If anyone has recommendations please help. I am still trying to get on baclofen- I am up to 10mg a day and trying to get to 30 but it gives me a headache,,,,,I HATE THIS!!!! I am still working and have to be able to use my right hand,,,,,,

HELP

Debbie

Hi Debbie, I'm sorry you are going thru this. I had this happen to my toes. My Dr. had me squeeze this in warm pool water every day.After 4 months they were straight again and touching the floor.

This also happened to my left hand. With my toes, I knew I had RSD, but with my left hand, I had RSD 4 years, but wasn't diagnosed. My 3rd spell with RSD was while water skiing and felt the nerve pull while getting up out of the water. My fingers swelled up straight as a board. I had a wrong diagnosis. RA and the tests were negative. I went to a different Dr. an ortho hand doc and he said rsd in 1 min. tests confirmed it, started me in therapy. was painful, got 50% use of my fingers. they only bend part way. Delay in treatment cost me. My right hand wants to do the same thing, but I stretch, use a rubber ball. I love the wax machine for hands and feet. It's warm wax you brush on your hand.Put in plastic bag. then in soft robe material When the wax cools, it peels right off. The warmth of the wax goes to the bones. Work on stretching. I have had lots of massage therapy. It has keep me mobile. Except for that left hand, I am mobile. I can type with left hand, button buttons, zipper so am happy with that. I can make half a fist. I don't know why some deforming is inward and some are curling the opposite way.
But once you go so far, if there has been delay it gets stuck.

When I breast surgery, I got RSD, but not diagnosed, got frozen shoulder, couldn't raise my hand or arm. I had 100 pt and 100 massage therapy and have full use of my shoulder. remission for a year. moved to other shoulder, more pt and massage and cortisone injections (2) remission for a year. Then the water skiing thing with left hand. it went from there to full body, generalized and internal, pelvic region. My Dr. just built 2 clinics with HBOT and I'm going to try it.

A woman was driving on the freeway here in Phoenix and was in an accident. Two cars collided and went into a metal fence. One of the poles became a missle and went thru her windshield, taking off part of her little finger and part of her arm. They saved her arm-18 operations. Her neurologist called my neruologist and asked him if he would take her as a patient as she had frozen shoulder, couldn't raise it at all. My Dr. put her in the HBOT 9 times and she was waiving at the local TV crew. I'm saving for it. Maybe April or May.

Debbie, I hope some of this helps. I work from home with the laptop and printer. My husband and I have been self employed for 40 years and we like it, this is a newer business for me. I love it-work when I can the the days that are bad, stay in bed.

Debbie, let us know how you are doing and how the medication is coming along. I'm going to research the med, I've gained weight on neurotin and lyrica and hate it. They did end my electric jolts, jerks, spasms and am grateful for that. They haven't come back and I've been off over a year.
Take care, your AZ buddy, loretta with soft hugs

[daniella]

I am so sorry and I know how hard to face this is and painful. Do you think you can call your pain doc or the doc who rx med and ask for suggestions? I know the side effects in the meds are hard. You stated you are working could you take a few days off while you increase to face the head aches or is it too severe to increase right now. I agree about a bath and I know some like epsom. Hang in there and sending thought

[debbiehub]

thanks for all of your advice- I love the idea of the warm wax...It has eased up a bit on its own but I am sure it will come back to haunt me soon enough! I am heading to the carribian for a week so hope the warm weather helps. I am going to try not to get too depressed about all the things I can't do while on vacation! It is going to be tough but I dont want to bring everyone else down, They have had enough of that

TY
Deb

[RNcrps2]

Deb, Both feet/toes were doing the same. I found hot epsom salt bath(for hand you could just use a bucket) and exercise them gently. I would do this like 3 times a day. I also hate meds but i had to increase my lyrica. Thank God because my toes/feet stopped curling under and i am able to walk on them. It was worth the side effects of the meds. Keep them warm. momof4

[PAC979]

My hand curls too. Got a stress ball and squeeze it daily it helps. keep exercising that hand and dont let the rsd get control of you

[Dubious]

Originally Posted by debbiehub

I am feeling such despair- My arms are getting so weak and now my right hand hurts and feels like it wants to curl up- I am doing everything to keep it open but its hard. If anyone has recommendations please help. I am still trying to get on baclofen- I am up to 10mg a day and trying to get to 30 but it gives me a headache,,,,,I HATE THIS!!!! I am still working and have to be able to use my right hand,,,,,,

HELP

Debbie

Hi Debbie,

I would also advise you to keep your hand working! The best advise I got from an ortho friend about painful joints was no matter how much it hurt, keep using it like it never was affected! That advise has helped me tremendously.

The only other bit of advise is if you have flexion contracture issues of the hand, stretch the fingers into extension often and do exercises to extend the fingers, more than flexing them. If you don't use it, you'll lose it...

[bobber]

Hi Deb
I agree with the board above,,,,also I recently ordered magnesium sulfate cream.{kirkman labs] on line,,,,.that is supposed to help withP.N but I believe it will help my legs and feet,,My wife just bought me some " Foot Pain Cream' [thats what its called]....it good for neuropathymand it increases circulation,,,,if you cant find it on line,,Pm me and i'll give the info,the foot pain cream,,,she bought at a health food store,,,,,, and also i just started taking "slowmag[magnesium chloride],,,,,,,bobber