I have rsd in both feet. Most of my pain is in my heels, around the edges of my heels, and the arches of my feet. I have started to get pain in my ankles and sometimes my toes recently (the last month or so). Anyway, the last several weeks I have had these knots in my feet..on the arches. They are large and very painful to touch (even sliding anything along them), etc. I have tried to massage them (as I can handle touch since I had the nerve blocks). It hurts so bad! And then I can hardly stand to walk on them...just as bad as my heels sometimes! Is this from rsd? Or is this just from tight muscles?

Thanks.
J

Hi J,
I would guess it's from RSD. I get some form of muscle tightening like knots, but not so visible, in my upper left arm and also my left leg. My RSD started in my left wrist and forearm. I also experience muscle twitching too...

Hi J,
I too would agree that it most likely is from muscle spasms. I have full body RSD and have since 1986 and get terrible muscle spasms and knots just like you mentioned, they are lg. knots that I can't rub away, I sometimes take a muscle relaxant or warm bath and that at least soothes them, hope this helps and that you feel better soon
You friend
Wendy

J,

I get this is many parts of my body and i get it in that same part of my foot. What i do is I get a tennis ball, cover it with a soft blanket so its soft on my foot and roll it back and forth to kind of break up those knots. I have seen a massage therapist that sees alot of rsd patients, and she said that just because we are in so much pain its how the body reacts by tightening up the muscles. What I found that works for me is while I am laying down to move my toes up and down back and forth up and down, etc, and bend my ankles, roll them in circles, just to loosen up the leg muscles around it. Also, Aveda has a foot lotion that has peppermint in it that helps tired feet that has really helped *maybe its just in my head who knows * but it feels good on the my redonk dry skin. and then the tennis ball. If you sit at the end of a bed and just roll your foot, or get 2 balls and do both feet, and just have the ball do the massage for you. it is the best thing rather than using your hands, because you wont weaken your hands and for pressure you just stand up a little on it. It will hurt allllot the first few times, but just keep doing it and it will really help your feet. It has helped me so much with the knots in my feel. I get the knots on the inside of my feet in the arch of my feet and man, its painful... hence why I cant sleep most nights. I hope this helps! You can always try maybe a rubber ball but just make sure it has some what of support to put pressure on your foot.

Also, I take a muscle relaxant to help. Baclofen is great. Or even Flexerol. That doesnt really help the knots though... the tennis ball will help get the knots though. It helps to do it after I get out of the shower or a bath or after I put a heatpack on my feet to warm the muscles up first.

H

Today I woke up with my left calf cramped up in knots and the pain was unbearable. For what seemed to last an hour or so I thought my leg was going to be stuck that way. This monster within us sucks...

I have had the knots for two years now on my calves and the are also painful. Sometimes they sting, itch and burn. There are so many things that go on with my legs that I could probably write an ABC song about them....sorry you are going through this knot phase too

Thanks Cindi,
Sometimes it's just good to vent and speak with understanding people...

You might need to ask your doc about prescribing a TENS unit. Sometimes it helps with the back of my neck and shoulder and is not invasive. It can also be used at your convenience. Lisa

I'm seeing her in a few weeks and I'll ask about it. I also hear that there's a prescription strength Aleve that might help...