I have RSD in my back...whole upper body in fact between my waist and neck (including both hands and arms) and this was all spread that happened after I got a lumbar sympathetic block (to treat the RSD in my ankle...go figure). So it is definitely possible that surgery could cause spread. The RSD in my spread areas feels the same as in my ankle (allydonia, burning pain, etc) and is triggered by the same things as my ankle. But some of the other symptoms were a little different than what I experienced in my ankle (where the RSD first started). My foot tends to turn dark red/purple...but my upper body just gets slightly red like a slight sunburn (wasn't outside at all to get one and was certainly always covered up so wouldn't get burned in that whole area anyway). I also haven't had as severe or as often the temp changes...but I think part of that is because I have been treating it properly from the start (no ice, desensitization, etc) where as with my ankle they had me immobilizing and using ice from the beginning until I got the dx of RSD 6 months later. So even though it FEELS the same in a lot of ways...some of the symptoms have presented a little differently in my spread areas.

So...it is possible that this is spread of your CRPS. Have the doctors been able to give you any help at all...do they have any theories or are they stumped? Couple of things that I would recommend.

1. Keep moving. I know it hurts and is hard but the more you give in to not moving, the worse the pain will get, then you will move even less, and the pain will get even worse, and so on. With your feet and legs, even things as simple as heel and toe raises while sitting or drawing the alphabet with your foot or toe crunches while you are sitting can be a good place to start to just keep yourself moving. The more you immobilize, the worse some of the other symptoms will get.

2. For sensitivity to touch...try to do some desensitization. I would take something like cotton balls or light fabric or whatever and rub it on my RSD areas. It will hurt...ALOT...but over time you will notice that you have less and less severe reactions to it and the sensations with start to normalize. It's hard with the back...I had my boyfriend help sometimes and a lot of the time it was me trying to wear more normal clothes. First I could only wear a normal shirt for 5 minutes...then it was 10...then 20, etc until I was to the point I am now where I can't wear tight things but I can wear regular clothing most of the time.

3. Warm baths with epsom salts can be really great. They help me a lot and I have started to do them twice a day and its amazing how much a difference that can make in helping to soothe the pain when not a lot of other things do. It doesn't go away but it does take the edge off. And when you have it in your back that can be a pretty difficult place to get relief.

4. I highly recommend trying out tDCS. For about $300 investment you can try this treatment at home...it is not invasive and has no real side effects. I have only been using it for about 3 weeks now and I have already noticed some improvements in the pain and function. There is a long thread on here about it...definitely check it out.

If you have any other questions...this is a great place to ask them. EVen if you just need to vent...everyone here understands and is very supportive. Take care and good luck.