Sleep is important for me. When I have anight with only 1.5 or 2 hours of sleep, it will be a difficult day. But it is very hard to shut my brain down. I try to let my body rest, but my brain is just on high speed. I'm about ready to change meds for sleeping again.

When I was first injured, I was sent to a PT who was wonderful and all he did 3 times a week was put on a rubber glove with a connection to the tens machine and then I held another connector in my hand and he gently, and I emphasize gently, massaged my leg for 15-20 minutes. That really helped with my sensitivity, but I have to keep it up. I try to massage it as best I can 3 times a week with a healing skin lotion but the bottoms of my feet are the worst. I use a gel called Voltaren and get some relieve.

If you are so new to the disease, from what I've read, you have a decent chance at remission. Doing aquatic PT was the only way I could handle PT without flaring up my RSD. At home I tried doing stretching but it would bring me to tears, so my doc said better to stop. Have you tried any of the injections, epidural, ganglion blocks, etc? Also some people have shown good results during the early stages with accupuncture, as long as they know what they are doing.
I hope you are able to find some relief soon.
Eli

paininthefoot11, Hi. i started out doing PT desensitizing 1st with soft cloth then getting up to using rice. Then slow movements with very little repitition. We found if i did something 3-4 times i was ok if i did 10 forget it i flared. I did no lifting or long stretches or i would flare. It was ashame because therapist are use to pushing the limits but they cant and some dont get it that with RSD you cant overdue. My RSD spread from arm to everywhere. Then i started with hot water therapy just walking and movements. Even with that therapist tried to push it so i ended up just doing water therapy and stretching on my own. We even bought a hot tub so i can do it daily. The warm water also desensitizes the skin and helps keep me putting weight on my feet. Tens unit helps but i can not use it on the original injury. I swear by epsom salt baths or in a bucket for my feet. I use that all the time and get relief. hope you find relief. momof4

We went to an outdoor movie, Saturday which I had to walk and use stairs...my ankle and knee hurt when we got to where we set up our chairs. My foot/ankle/leg was swollen and would not go down with elevation and elevation over night (which I do every night). I went to PT yesterday, pool with warm water, then I made then do some ultrasound on my foot/ankle. Some places were very sensitive however my foot/ankle is not so swollen today!!
But I can no longer afford any PT. I cancelled all PT appointment. They said they would call billing to see what they could to about it. I am not excpecting anything from that.
I am going to try to find a part time desk job. I have applied for a part time desk job where I work now (I am still out on medical leave, I asked for 4 more weeks but haven't heard anything from that) nor have I heard about the part time job. I did notice it was taken off the career board.

It seems thigns just aren't going my way, and they haven't been for a long time!! It's just not with my foot.

I am sorry and can relate to things not going well. I wish I had more answers for you. In terms of PT can you come up with a routine on your own? Such as go to the pool and do the activites you learned or another activity like walking etc?
I hope you can find some PT work and hear back from your work. I can imagine that stress alone is so hard to deal with. Hang in there

Thanks for the support. I try not to be 'locked' in the house all the time so we went to this movie and it was just $4 each!! They let you bring a picnic. It as fun except for the foot/ankle and leg pain!! I did bring my painn meds with me and had take them. I can't to much walking, even some of the ROM exercise makes my foot hurt and swell. But I do keep trying. I am going to try the pool exercises I learned. Our apartment complex has a pool.

Good for you. Gotta keep trying. Don't let this disorder define you!

Definitely try the pool. Water exercise is the BEST for me in so many ways. Along with helping my foot, it helps my back and hip.

With water, there is no impact, it provides mild resistance, and it just plain feels good. I use a pool in the off seasons and the lake in the summer.