Hey I was wondering have any of you experienced moderate to severe hair loss? I'm wondering because since I've gotten RSD my hair has been falling out and now it's to the point where I have hardly any hair left on the top of my head. I know RSD affects blood flow and without proper blood flow the hair can't grow properly. Any comments or suggestions?

Jazzy,
Although I have thick hair, I note that I loose clumps of it in the shower or brushing. But it is still covering. My foot has RSD and that leg I don't have to shave but maybe once a month (with lots of pain medication) vs. the other once or 2 a week. I can only assume this is from the RSD.

I also have experienced hair going down the drain. Getting thinner too. My neurologist did explain the interrupted blood flow as a possibility as Alt mentioned. I thought about standing on my head but since my balance is bad I'd probably fall over...

Hey Jimbo,

I think you are absolutely on to something with the head stand idea! My physical therapist gave me an exercise to increase my flexibility and I discovered that I had more normal color returning to my hand, less swelling, and a decrease in the hair loss! This exercise is a variation of standing and touching your toes, which I can't do or like you, I would fall over. Once an hour I sit in a chair, knees apart and bend over letting my arms hang toward the floor. Headspinningly painful in the beginning, still is painful but not as bad. Not only a good stretch but the increased blood flow has obviously helped the other symptoms. As an added bonus I have seen a slight improvement in my balance since I am constantly challenging it. When I first began the exercises I would fall out of the chair and had no sense of where the walls, floor and ceiling were.

I still rely on my service dog to retrieve dropped items on the floor but the constant ever present sensation of an impending fall has improved.

I used to have pretty, shiny full hair. When it began thinning I though that was the ultimate insult. Now less hair in the drain and on my pillow! I'll take that.

Take care and give this a try. I started noticing a difference within about a week.

It wasn't something I noticed when I first got RSD...but since it spread and got worse at the end of January I lose a handful or so every time I take a bath and seem to be "shedding" a lot more than usual. Most of the doctors have said it is probably caused by stress and...yeah...I would say that the RSD and all this has definitely stressed me out the past year.

I used to say better gray than away but now I've gotta come up with a new saying...

Jimbo,

You could always use "I'm to sexy for my hair, that's why there isn't any there. (lol) Sorry, that's what my husband has to say. Teehee!

Good one Alt...