Very sorry to hear of your fairly new diagnosis, it is never a good thing to hear. BUT thankfully there are these forums full of people who do know what we are all going through daily and can offer suggestions.

I have CRPS in my hands and it is no where near the degree of seriousness from what I have read on here and other forums, but it is my pain nonetheless, a pain I never had before. I have endured 10 hand surgeries between both hands in 3 1/2 years, multpile cortisone injections (which caused more pain) tried many pain med's (which I refuse to take narcotics, to afraid of them) so i take Topamax and Cymbalta for pain. I see a pain mngmnt Dr. and have had 8 Stellate ganglion injections (which have helped some, but not enough to continue having a needle jammed into my neck). I was issued a Tens Unit which sends electrical surges through wires/patches to the affected area to stimulate the nerves.

I have the cold sensation in my hands but not all of the time. I have burning on fire feeling with pin prickling but at any given moment the hands go ice cold and numb. Although they hurt, I am told it is super important to continue to massage them and stretch them, to keep them from getting imobile. Some people cannot do that due to their pain level, I can, with extreme pain for the aftermath. There is no one right medication, no one right treatment as we all respond differently to everything. It is a lifelong illness, one that we have to mentally accept sooner than later because we need our mental strength to make up for the loss of our physical loss and cope with our limitations. It is a daily, hourly struggle, but as I said, thank goodness for these forums. Whatever you do, do not give up hope that you will find a way to manage the pain, it may take time, and there may be better days than others, but hang in there and ask any questions you may have!!! Good luck!

I am new to this site as I have been diagnosed with CRPS late in this last November. I had my foot run over by an automobile and my foot stays cold while the rest of my body is normal temperature. The pain is starting to spread through my leg and up to my thigh. I constantly feel as if my foot (sometimes leg) is bare skinned in snow. It's taking a toll on me mentally as well as physically. Sometimes I get the sharp stabbing pains in my other foot which is confusing. I have seen an Orthopedic Specialist that has prescribed Lyrica and Amitriptyline. I have also had 3 nerve blocks. Neither give me relief and I've been advised to get the neurostimulator in my back. I feel like I am a mystery. The pain has caused me to go to the ER a couple times and the Drs there have no clue as they have said they never heard of my symptoms as they feel my freezing foot. My primary Dr is referring me to John Hopkins to get a 2nd opinion from another Orthopedic specialist. I had 4 fractures and a broken bone but I believe they are healed. I'm not sure why an Orthopedic Specialist is referred to me to help with my CRPS. Can someone please tell me what kind of doctor I should be seeing. I am at my wits end and the mental effects are wearing me down. Thank you in advance!

I have temperature regulation dysfunction in both hands and feet, even though the severe burning pain is (usually) just in my dominant hand. Sometimes both hands will get ice cold, or my right hand and left foot, or both feet, etc. Warm water with Epsom salts works best for me. Using an infrared heater seems to help as well.

UNCERTAIN,

When your pain increases, are you "guarding" your hand to protect it?

I developed a habit of guarding in the first few years that ended up causing all kinds of problems--the pain travelled up my arm, to my elbow, to my shoulder, to my neck, and down my back. It also caused my hand to atrophy.

With the help of a pain psychologist I was able to break the guarding habit, but it had become so second nature that it was not easy--a big understatement. I still have the lingering issues with the pathway to my back, but they are much less severe than they were. My back will still get random muscle spasms and being in warm water helps, if things get out of whack enough I schedule a series of massages and have needed trigger point injections (I believe that's what the doc called them?) as well. Lidocaine patches can help, and sometimes I use Epsom salt cream if taking a bath or swimming is not an option.