its possible it was a muscle cramp.. in that case stretching would help.. ( ill keep my fingers crossed that , that is the issue...soft hugs

Unfortunately not a cramp. This happens to me a lot in the past year if I immobilize my hands or arms at all...even if it's just having them in the same position without moving or stretching them (like me holding the duster for extended periods of time or the fishing pole when I went fishing or also if I am stitching and my one arm doesn't move much). It's not just a cramp...it's total freezing and I have to forcibly move that limb usually with my other arm. God forbid it ever happens to both sides at the same time...I'll be a useless mess! I try to be good with this stuff and not let myself immobilize but sometimes with the things like dusting or fishing or stitching I don't even realize I am doing it until hours later when I try to set the duster, fishing pole, or stitching down. Once I know that these things cause the freezing I just have to make myself move the limb every 5-10 minutes. Frustrating how much life changes when you have RSD...even when things are going good you can't stop and take a break from it at all or "forget" you have it and the things you need to do for treatment/therapy. Oh well...things are generally going so awesome...this is just a tiny blip on the radar.

Does anyone know of a doctor in Los Angeles that does tDCS?
Thank you!

Just thought I would drop in and give an update on how I have been progressing wih the tDCS treatment and my return to work.

First...I have been continuing treatments but I have gone down to one treatment a day because fitting in two has been too difficult. So I'm not sure if that has slowed down my progress or not (because I am still improving) but it is a change and thought I would mention it. I still do them every day though...usually as part of my routine to get ready in the morning.

BUT...as I said...I am still improving and am very encouraged by the changes over the past month.

I am now consistently sleeping through the night without waking and getting about 8 hours of sleep (unless I have to be up earlier for work). This is incredible. I still have the odd night here or there where I wake up and can't fall back asleep...but it's rare...only 2 or 3 times in the past month I think. Could also have something to do with how exhausted I am from working...but whatever the cause I am thrilled. This makes such a big difference in my energy levels and I just FEEL better overall when I get a full night's sleep. All last year I was lucky to get 3 hours straight of sleep and most nights I was constantly waking up lucky to get 15 minutes together.

There has also been improvement in my hyper sensitivity. Before it was my hands and my forearms that were getting relief and now I can also say that my upper arms are better too and (in the extreme heat that we have been having) I actually went outside without my scarf and wasn't crying in pain from the breeze. My neck still flares bad with anything except hot air movements (ie anything room temperature or less still hurts like all get out)...but this is a step in the right direction.

My balance is starting to improve...yay! I have been able to do more and more walking without the walker. I still always have it with me because I never know when I will lose it but I am able to do more and more stuff without it which is great. Unfortunately, every time I go without it my ankle flares from the full wieght bearing...but the fact that my balance is improving is great as far as I am concerned. Seems like if I am in a flare or REALLY tired...that's when I get all wobbly again...or maybe that's just when it's more noticeable because I don't have the ability to concentrate on it as much.

Work has been great. It totally kicks my butt...but it is WONDERFUL. I find that while I am at work and able to concentrate on something else besides the pain and treatments that things are better. The pain is still there...but it's not consuming all my thoughts and that feels great. I know that's not related to tDCS but wanted to say it anyway because it really is amazing to be back at work...and I honestly don't think I would be doing as well as I am at work without tDCS affecting all the other things.

The other things I am still using/doing along with tDCS. I still use the rolling walker, use a cane to get up and down stairs, take hot baths with epsom salts once or twice a day, wear the TENS on my ankle, wear Lidoderm patches on my arms if I know I will be doing any heavy lifting or very physical work (besides just walking), and am wearing the clonidine patches. I ran our of clonidine patches and went a week without them. The blurry vision and dizziness returned...so it looks like these will continue to be necessary. I am also still following the 4 Fs diet as much as possible. It's a little harder now that I am back at work but I would say that I still only cheat very rarely...once a week...sometimes twice. But I'm staying away from all the bad things...including caffeine and coffee...no easy thing now that I am back at work. :-)

Hope everyone else is doing well and if anyone has any questions, please let me know.

Gosh, I sure wish you all the best in your future gains from tDCS. It looks like you really are on the way to a better life and being a little more pain free. I'm so happy for you. At the moment I can't say the same for Deb and I. We still have not had any great shakes in the way of improving. Doc had us stop for 2 weeks to rest up for a new protocol. I've started the new one and had a few changes but nothing lasting. I don't plan to give up I'm still holding out hope for some miracle to suddenly happen when you least expect it. If you are still doing treatments what protocol are you using? Just curious if you have a favorite one. I'm also hoping Joydee's daughter is keeping up with the treatments and hope to hear soon that she's doing better. I really do wish you all the best and please keep us all informed of all your progress.

Hi,

I agree is great to see Catra continuing to progress using TDCS. Her
continued reports are appreciated. I am keeping my fingers crossed for
you. You say you started a new protocal and noted a few changes
but nothing long lasting. My understanding is, it is the repeated
treatments which produce longer lasting effects so lets hope you
have hit upon the right protocol. As for my daughter, yes indeed
she is continuing with treatment. She is back to the protocol she
continued after returning from Atlanta.

I'm still using the same one as before. I really haven't experimented with other protocols...just the first one I tried that I did not care for and this one which is the same one I have said before but blanking at the moment on what the locations are called (worked overnight the past 2 days and a total of 26 hours...my brain is a little fried). I have thought about trying a different protocol to see if I can target some of my balance problems...but as I am still seeing improvements (even if they have slowed down) I dont really want to switch yet. Once the improvements stop I would like to try another protocol though and see how it goes.

Fugety is sending me a tens unit. we are going to do tens and tdcs at the same time

Deb

I use my TENS unit all the time and it is definitely a huge thing in my treatment plan to get through each day. I hope this works out for you...still praying for all you guys doing treatments with the tDCS.

Hi everyone, I am a new member but have been reading consistantly the past few days and decided to join. My Mom has RSD stage 3, she's had countless doctors in a number of states that have tried nerve blocks, EEGs (several times, I think that's what its called, where they test the nerve), she is on a slew of narcotics (morphine, percocet, and the marijuana pill) with no relief, she also has fibro, seizures, and from my research I think gastropherisis.

I've done a lot of reading and followed a few of your stories with your success with tDCS, the next step her dr is looking at is radiofrequency neurotomy, which I have read the best results from this procedure.

She has a TENS unit, but from what im gathering the TENS unit and a tdcs device are two different things right? If anyone can point me in the right direction as to where I can purchase a tdcs device and the protocols for the certain placements for pain relief I would GREATLY appreciate it.

Thank you all and gentle hugs!