Originally Posted by catra121

My RSD spread to my upper back and neck earlier this year. So far I haven't been able to find anything to help the burning pain (but there were problems with my meds so hopefully we can try to find something else to help soon). I even had to cut my hair so it wouldn't touch my neck at all. Does it feel better at all when you (for example) take a warm bath? I found heat helped a little (I know...heat for burning pain...weird)...and If I have to go when it is cold I will put a disposable heating parch and wear that under a scarf (which aggravates the pain on one hand but helps on the other to protect it from the cold air).

I'm sorry to hear that this is happening to you. The burning in my back and neck has driven me more crazy than anything else. Over time it has now become the "norm" for me so I deal with it a little better now but it is not any better than it was 9 months ago when it started.

Good luck...I hope you are able to find meds that can help. When it was just the burning in my ankle the Lyrica was the best for the burning pain. Neurontin did zip for me...but as with everything we have to try different meds until we find one that helps.

Originally Posted by catra121

Started in my left ankle where I have RSD. After I had a lumbar sympathetic block at the end of January the burning pain spread to my back and then up to my neck, then down my arms into my hands, my sides, stomach...pretty much everything between my waist and neck. But it's the absolute worst in my neck and back...don't know why those areas are particularly sensitive even more than the others.

Originally Posted by jimbo

Hey Bent,
I'm curious about how you know it's not RSD?

Originally Posted by Jerie

Bent98,
Have you tried a TENS unit? I get relief sometimes. Also when I get ramp up pain, I take a brisk walk. I don't know if you can walk, but cardio output reduces the burning and helps me not fuel the fire emotionally. Sadly sometimes nothing works, I take xtra meds, use the tens, walk, cry, pace whatever, till it passes. I use DSMO cream and lidocain together sometimes, it helps absorb the medication in the skin. I also use DSMO cream daily with diclofenac gel all over for neurogenic inflamation. I use a 70% DSMO rose scented cream, I get through Amazon.com. They have unscented too. Don't buy the industrial solvent type, use the cream or gel. Some people get lidocain infusions, I have never had it offered to me. I asked for a clonidine patch to help calm my SNS, VA wouldn't do that either, but some pain clinics know about it. Ask your doctor after you research it on line a little to see if it would be indicated for your situation.