Hello All: I finally was able to get my computer up and running again. It is now made up of miscellaneous used parts and crossed fingers.

I hope all of you are doing as well as possible. We are going to get about 8 inches of snow during the next few days and I can sure tell it. It would be nice to stay in but I have PT tomorrow morning. I have slight movement in my ankle now but more pain due to the PT. If only there was some way to stay active and not have to pay for it with more pain. I can hardly wait for summer. Yard work is certainly a lot more fun than leg raises, etc.

Welcome to all new members, I have a lot of catching up to do and do not want to forget to say hello to the newcomers. I made just one post in the last two months and that was at my son's home. Just when I got on the computer to post, his inlaws came and I had to sign off so as not to be rude. My son hooked up a new (for me) monitor so here I am. The old one was 11 years old so it lasted a long time. I think I would go bananas if I couldn't talk to someone else with RSD. It helps relieve the stress of being out of the loop of active people.

Does anyone have any suggestions of exercises to do for RSD of the foot/leg? I can barely walk after PT and there is more pain. Also, any ideas on how to keep Lidoderm patches on without bandaids the hurt when you take them off?

The recent articles posted here are really interesting. Does it seem to you that the more recent studies seem to have a better understanding of what is going on with us and that some medical professionals are taking more of an interest in RSD?

It is good to be back online. Regards, Lil

Hi Lil!

Great to have you back, we missed you! Yeuchhh, computer made of crossed fingers - but maybe they can do the typing for you Yep, you'll have lots of reading to do now....
all the best

Hey there Lil!

One of those newcomers here! Glad to hear your back - Read your post when your puter was out of commission - I bet it's WONDERFUL to be back online. This place helps keep me sane (although I dont have RSD hubby does) I share a lot of information with my hubby and it's been helping us a lot being here. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed too that your puter stays "healthy" Looking forward to reading lots of your posts!

Can your physical therapist give you any exercises to do at home? My physical therapist made me a home program- with pics to go along with instructions & how often to do each excercise. Maybe your therapist could do the same?

Things I have to do at home for PT (for my legs):
~*Sit in a chair and "march" (even if I am having a bad day and only able to move a tad, it's something)
~*Heel raises
~*Shifting weight from one foot to the other
~*On hands/ knees, shifting weight back and forth (this is actually for the benefit of my hands/ arms/ shoulders as well as my legs, and I use either a large ball or a few pillows underneath my belly for this, to support me/ help in case I fall- which I do)
~*Leg raises (I know you mentioned them, so you know what they are)
~*Walking, walking, walking.

At PT I use a bike, do all of the above excercises, and my therapist does rotations, and moves me every which way.


What excercises are they having you do there? Where is your RSD (like, foot or the whole leg)? Are you able to walk? What about desensitization- does PT do that?

I know for me PT seemed to make everything worse, and I seemed to be going nowhere. Now, after seeing small progress, I have begun to have better days. Yay. Hang in there, maybe after a while it'll get better. I hope so!


Some other things I wanted to add:
~I make sure I take pain meds. 1/2 hr. before PT sessions so that I am in less pain, and able to do the excercises better (and in hopes I have enough pain relief that I'm not crying/ screaming in pain as I do them).

~I use the lidoderm patches and they seem to stick to my legs, but when they are on the bottom of my feet they slip off. I don't know if anyone else has ideas?! I could use them, as well. I know how to un-stick them (stick your foot in water)...




I'll add more later- have to go now.

Tell me if you want more of an explanation on the excercises I mentioned.

Hi Lil,

Glad to see you are back, I missed you. Sorry I haven't PM'd you but I had

Pneumonia over Christmas and have been fighting increased pain and for

the first time in almost 8 years I have developed burning pain. I never

new just how bad the burning could be until it started about 2 weeks ago.

Also wanted to tell you I went to a new PM Doc today and he gave me a

lumbar block and started me on 50 Mcg of Duragesic patches. I finally have

relief.

How have you been feeling? Pain levels up I suppose due to the storm front

coming in?

Ask your PT for some at home exercises they will be happy to give you

instructions with pictures, most are real good about that.

Take care my friend, will talk soon.