My wife has wore a brace for 7 years on her arm. One doc commented that if she had RSD she would not want a brace touching her. Strange really if you think about it. She has a strong need to cover and protect that injured arm at all cost. Doctors have worked with her to get her to lose it but she wont. She is also sensitive to touch on her whole body but the spot of her original injury is always covered and she rests it on a pillow everyday of the year.

I agree with Gabby. See an Ortopedic Dr. and/or a hand surgeon.

I had ulner nerve surgery about 6 years ago and have had 2 rotator cuff surgeries, and triggerfinger surgery along with TOS surgery all on my right arm and hand. I first went through PT, and I had a brace for my elbow and I have braces for both right and left hand for CTS and RSD. They were special made for me. I still use my right hand brace every once in awhile due to I believe overuse of my right hand. It gets everything going but when I wear the brace, it seems it gives it time to settle down from over use.

By seeing these speicalist you might find out you have other things going on in that arm besides just the RSD. I had blocks before my surgeries so it kept the RSD from getting worse or coming out in other areas.

Glad you found the forum. You will learn a lot and get a lot of support here.

Ada

dreambeliever and lisa in ohio:

I can feel your pain. Radial Head Fracture,radial head replaced with titanium, ulnar nerve transposition, 2 contracture releases, 2 manipulation under anthesthia, and 1 collateral ligament repair. Oh and lets not forgert the many RSD procedures,PT for 10 months,torture, 14 stellate blocks, 3 - 5 day inpatient ketamine infusions w/boosters and one more surgery call a cryo.......,they try and freeze the nerves. But after all said and done I do not wear any braces and have about 90% of my motion and use the arm normally. Pain is my biggest issue which is almost constant but ofcourse better than when I got hurt and endurance is a big problem, I just can't seem to sweep,vaccum, garden etc. and if I do do it I have to work in 5 minute intervels.

I mention the above because I was not with the proper doctors in beginning and I almost really had a disaster with my arm. What I did not realize is that once you start with surgeries like ulnar nerve surgery, implants, etc. you really need someone who only does that kind of work, which is very hard to find. I was told about 5 doctors in the whole United States could do work like this and do it right, NYC, Boston, Minnasota, Texas, and Maryland. I live 2 hours for NYC so I choose there.

Good Luck

Gabbycakes

I agree on having the right Drs. You just keep going until you find that right one. I was lucky to have a good Ortho which I saw 2 before I got him, I have a good hand surgeon, a good Neuro, a great PCP, and none of them came the first time around. I saw several lousy ones before I found these.

I spent almost 4 years in PT and that helped me a lot but I did figure out the surgeries had to come too. I found that a Dr has to be gutsy and be willing to do what he has to do to help you. I ran up on many that seemed hesitant to me. This last surgeon I had, it took me about 7 years and that many Drs. before he did this pelvic surgery. He spent time with me was very religous, very nice man. He couldn't believe I was left this way for 7 years. He told my Dr. as much when he came out to talk to her at the hospital.

I'm very picky about my Drs. I want Drs. that are human as well as Drs.

I hope the surgeries you have had have helped give you some relief. I have been very lucky with mine. I've had blocks also to help with keeping the RSD from flaring.

Mariah, I hope you get the help you need with the RSD and the arm. Therapy is not going to help if you have something else going on in the arm that needs to be repaired. Pain meds didn't do anything for my arm and hand problems and PT helped but left me knowing what else needed to be done.

Ada

Sufferers often want to use a brace but it usually worsens the condition. We want to do almost anything to protect the injured limb and often favor it.

It's usually helpful to keep it warm but some people might prefer cool. Keep in mind that cold might stop the pain but for most of us the pain comes back worse.

Find a good doc. Your age and the fact it's recent are working very much in your favor to get a good outcome. Work hard and good luck.

I agree. As I stated earlier my wife protects and covers her injured arm at all costs. That arm has been covered almost continuously for 7 years and it does not look good. I wish she would lose the brace, hopefully in return a less painful arm.

Hi gabby,
My mother is currently going through RSD in her right arm and Right leg and she has been going through this pain for several years.I've seen her go from regaining her strength to absolutley loosing it in her arm. It is a terrible cicumstance to be in and I hate having to see my mother go through pain everyday and feel so helpless. I don't want to see her pain go from worse to worse and spread. I've read several stories about people who have to be in wheelchairs because of this RSD pain. It is hard for me as a teenager to watch my mother grow up this way and not be able to do the things everyother kid can do with their mother. I know that these posts were very old but when I seen what you have commented about your pain, it caught my attention because thats exactly what my mother goes through. I guess my question is what has helped you the most to overcome this? If you have any advise to help my mom, please feel free to.
Thank you,
Alynna