love family pets,
I gotta ask this,
Why is it that you're getting so many colds? I get some stuffy nose sort of things, and have Allegra for that, because of my C-pap machine.

Are you getting good nourishment, and getting some vitamins?
Are you around contagious people, the public, children in school, etc.?

I'm sure that you're aware that RSD can sometimes mimic the pain a flu will bring, in a way. And, whatever hurts worst, is what we feel. For instance, if I get a real knife in the eye sort of migraine, I'm not so concerned about my feet pain.

Hope you're well!

Pete
asb

I just got over a bout with the flu and my RSD symptoms were out of control, along with my flu symptoms...it was HORRIBLE!!!!

I am like Cindi. Since I've had RSD my symptoms have flared out of control -in particular, my head pain - every time I have gotten sick...

Dear Sandy/Cindi -

Please make sure you are not taking Sudafed or any other product containing pseudoephedrine, which works by constricting the small blood vessels in nasal passages:

Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic amine. Its principal mechanism of action relies on its indirect action on the adrenergic receptor system. The vasoconstriction that pseudoephedrine produces is believed to be principally an α-adrenergic receptor response.

* * *

These adrenergic receptors are located on the muscles lining the walls of blood vessels. When activated by pseudoephedrine, the muscles contract, causing the blood vessels to constrict (vasoconstriction). The constricted blood vessels now allow less fluid to leave the blood vessels and enter the nose, throat and sinus linings, which results in decreased inflammation of nasal membranes as well as decreased mucus production. Thus, by constriction of blood vessels, mainly those located in the nasal passages, pseudoephedrine causes a decrease in the symptoms of nasal congestion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudoephedrine (For a list of the many over-the-counter products containing pseudoephedrine, see http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...s/a682619.html.)

And as I believe Sandy is well aware, anyone with RSD/CRPS has way too much experience already with vasoconstriction. See, e.g., An Update on the Pathophysiology of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Bruehl S, Anesthesiol. 2010;113(3):713-725 at 717 ONLINE TEXT @ http://www.rsds.org/2/library/articl...ology_2010.pdf, citing, Alpha-adrenergic supersensitivity of the sudomotor nerve in complex regional pain syndrome, Chémali KR, Gorodeski R, Chelimsky TC, Ann Neurol. 2001 Apr;49(4):453-9:

Abstract
alpha-Adrenoreceptor supersensitivity in many tissues has been described in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I). Because excessive sweating of the affected limb is an important feature of CRPS I, we investigated whether this supersensitivity also occurs in the sudomotor system. We compared the sweat response to iontophoresis of an alpha-adrenergic agent (phenylephrine) in 4 patients with acute CRPS I and 3 patients with resolved CRPS I with that in 9 control subjects using the methodology of the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART). A significantly higher sweat response was observed in the affected limb of patients with acute CRPS I compared to their unaffected limb (p = 0.03), to control subjects (p > 0.018), and to the affected or unaffected limbs of patients with resolved CRPS I (p = 0.02), whose sweat response was not significantly different from that of control subjects. We conclude that the abnormal response in patients with acute CRPS I is most likely mediated by an axon reflex and that alpha-adrenoreceptor supersensitivity occurs in the presynaptic portion of the postganglionic sudomotor axon. This supersensitivity is reversed when CRPS I resolves.

PMID: 11310622 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11310622

So while Sudafed, etc., is constricting the small vessels in your nasal passages, it's doing the same number on the rest of your body: something I figured out the hard way. Hence the contraindications for those with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, etc., as set out in the Wiki article. Better we should take something like Zicam® Cough Max Cough Spray (100% Dextromethorphan HBr - just search the forum for Dextromethorphan) and let the nose do what it will!

Mike

Thanks Mike - you are amazing.....

Hi Pete,
My first cold I think I got from a friend and the second one I got from either my sister or cousin (both of which were sick with a cold). I do take vitamins. Personally, I would take a head cold any day over my RSD pain. Sorry to hear you get migraines. I hope you were able to stay well during the holidays!