Anyone who believes you can chop off the RSD problem is going to be sadly disappointed when they wake up after surgery only to find out they're in no better shape than before. As an amputee from the ravages of RSD, the only reason any responsible doctor will ever remove a limb is when the patient is dealing with life threatening and chronic infections that necessitate this type of radical solution. By the way, getting insurance to pay for it is another hurdle and while the idea might sound right, the reality is it doesn't work.

Pain and desperation makes everyone who's in the upper range of severe RSD damage consider this option but the sad fact is amputation just doesn't make the problem go away. In fact it often actually makes it worse across the board. The only good thing that came out of my first amputation (we still need to take the other leg) is that we have less real estate to be infected but be it infections, blood clots or pain, these problems will still exist even after a person has whatever body part removed.

Unless you're dealing with narcotic tissue where the circulation system has shut down, the best solution you have right now for managing the ravaging effects of RSD is through better pain management and therapy that will hopefully help you get the most out of whatever little you still have. While it breaks my heart to read about anyone who's actually desperate enough to live with the effects of living with less of your body just so the problems will somehow ease up, I know first hand that you'd only be creating new and in all likelihood more problems than you have now.

Be up front with your trusted doctor(s) over how you're feeling and how desperate you're feeling. Only then will the doctors understand that you're willing to do whatever it takes just so you can find a bit better quality in daily life. Wishing you only the best, Bob.

Bob,
I have been following your posts and want to express my appreciate with you sharing your experiences and particularily your amputation. My husbands foot and leg, to the knee, looks very similar to yours (the picture of your left leg before amputation) however his leg is not as dark. He has had RSD since 2002 and is often dealing with a minor scrape or nick that oozes and grows in size resulting in an infection. Recently a minor nick on the big toe caused a big blister to form which explains the bandaged toe on the attached picture. It took 1.5 years for RSD to be diagnosed and a couple years after that we thought about amputation however quickly realized this was not an option and to keep his leg intact for as long as possible was the best scenero. Its been almost 10 years of managing pain, dealing with weeping skin and infections. He is taking oxycontin currently for pain management and is coping quite well (his laid back attitude really helps). I can't help but wonder how much longer his leg will "last" before all circulation is lost and amputation mandatory.
I truly hope you continue to be as healthy as possible and that life is fulfilling. Would love to chat more. Take care. Tammy and Ron

Attached Thumbnails

     

Those photos look so painful


Has anyone suggested low level laser therapy or even LED light therapy?
Both of these can be used without having to touch the skin - but someone would have to hold the units or place it on a stand of some sort.

LLLT treatments can be as short as 20 secs per location - LED takes about 20 minutes per location

If nothing else it should help the wounds heal much faster, but it just might help with some of the swelling & pain from that.

some basic info sites for LLLT & LED
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&cp=19&g...w=1360&bih=662

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&cp=4&gs...w=1360&bih=662

other things that have been talked of on the forum-
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy?? HBO
Nutrition & supplements ? grape seed extract/pycnogenol = antioxidants
I also like Vit C & MSM for whole body healing and wellness along with a good multiple.
Since you are so far north a Vitamin D supplement is a good idea too.
We have a forum for - Vitamins, Nutrients, Herbs and Supplements- it will have more specifics for those things.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum49.html