Welcome...and I am very sorry to hear all that you are going through. I hope that you are able to get some answers at the clinic in a few weeks...but RSD is often very misunderstood by doctors and medical professionals. Many people go years without a firm diagnosis and even once we have one there always seem to be doctors out there who want to tell us we DON'T have it (the same ones who say it doesn't spread or can't be anywhere other than a hand or foot...yeah...they are out there with their wacky theories).

I understand your feelings about the meds...I personally have gone off most of mine that were for the pain because I was concerned about the long term affects they would have on me. But we all need to do what is right for us as individuals and what allows us to get the best quality of life.

For me...the single biggest thing that has helped my RSD up to this point has been the physical therapy. It's very hard to do and hurts like all get out...but it has given me my life back. I was stuck in a wheelchair and couldn't do hardly anything for myself...now I am able to be on my feel all day long (still need to use a walker) and can go out as much as I please. The pain is still there...but the function is back and I will take it.

Another thing which I just started a month ago is tDCS. This has been one of the first things in a long time that is actually helping with the PAIN and the allydonia. It is pretty inexpensive as far as treatments go...the equipment only cost me $300 or so and I do the treatments at home by myself. There is a thread on here about it and I highly recommend reading through it. I don't know if you have RSD or not...but if you do I would make this one of my first treatment options. It is not invasive and has little to no side effects so it's definitely worth a shot given the number of people who have found relief with it. Also...at $300...it is much much cheaper than just about any other procedure you could find out there. Not to mention the savings on prescriptions if you are able to come off of some of those meds, right?

Good luck to you...I hope that you find some answers and some relief soon. This really is a great site to find support and understanding from people who know what it is like to go through what you are dealing with. Good luck.

You're one of those good caring people I was refering to. I'm glad you are finding some things that are improving the quality of your life. What does TDCS stand for?
I have started to make myself walk as far as I am able, usually about one half mile round trip, each day. Even though it is difficult I'm sure it will help me in the long term. Also, it gives me a feeling of accomplishment and empowerment so that I'm not just sitting around feeling sorry for myself, which has been my tendency over the last couple of months. Hopefully, I'll have some answers in a couple of weeks and a direction I can pursue towards beating this thing or, at least, minimising it as much as possible. Thanks for your information and words of encouragement. Good luck to you.

tDCS stands for transcranial direct current stimulation...sounds scarier than it really is...lol! Essentially I think of it like a tens unit that I put on my head instead of my rsd areas (though I have one of those that I use as well).

The walking is a very good things and it is definitely worth it to keep it up if you can. Most of us get into the worst trouble when we stop using the RSD limb or guard it too much...then it just becomes a much harder cycle of pain to break out of. It helps me to have a routine that I do each day which includes the hot baths with epsom salts (twice a day I have been doing it recently) and those seem to help me to get started in the mornings.

Take care and keep us posted.

I would second tDCS. Non-invasive and low cost to try out. Pain medication is never without side effects and if this doesn't work, at least it doesn't do any harm. Aslo, if it works for you, you will save plenty of money.
But be aware, in some people it works, in others it has no effect at all. Why is currently unknown.

Steve