I was wondering if anyone has experienced pain free or reduced periods of pain where their initial RSD/CRPS site is. Mine was on the left arm about six years ago. I have now developed it on the right side where it goes from my hand to shoulder and into my neck. I did not realize how "quiet" my initial site was until I developed this new site of RSD. The new one hurts/burns, aches so bad that I realize I had it pretty good with my lower level of chronic pain on the left until this ramped up.

I can't believe how it is bringing back such miserable memories of my first two years with RSD. The familiar ache, stiffness, burning pain, sleepless nights, can't find a position to get comfortable, worn out feelings are back again. How does it go the second time around? Same misery, worse or shorter? I am just wondering. I will go soak in Epsom salts and take a pain pill and pray I can make it through this again. I am so tired. Anyone relate to this?

Yes! I have experienced this very thing! Except my RSD started in my right foot and has now spread all the way up the right side of my body. The most severe pain I experience is in my right hand, arm, shoulder and neck...in fact, the pain in my neck has been flaring up for a couple days now...so the pain is really intense. I'm sorry to say that in my experience so far the second time around, my pain has been just as bad and things are ALMOST as difficult as before. Don't forget to put the little tricks you learned the first time around into action. You'll start to realize you learned a few more tricks than you thought. So, hang in there. And you can talk to me anytime. :Gentle Hug:

nalakity, I am sorry you too are in pain. Did you have an injury on the upper limb or did the RSD spread without an incident? How long did you have the RSD in your ankle before you had a spread?

As you suggest, I have started doing my little tricks again to curtail/distract from the pain. The nights are bad and the continuous lack of sleep is reducing my pain tolerance. I may have to get something to help with the nights. Do you take anything for pain?

Mine is in my right foot with spread to my left. Although at time the pain is worse in the left my right still is bothersome. Not as bad with my last lsb. But still aware of the pain, swelling etc.

I'm not sure if mine has been "quiet" or if I've just gotten used to the pain...I do that a lot. It still hurts all the time, but it's like I'm used to it being there so I try to ignore it unless it gets hit, bumped, or touched somehow. The new areas burn like crazy...especially my legs. But I can almost guarantee that if I hit my wrist enough to set off the massive pain there, I wouldn't feel the burning in my legs as much. But I'm not gonna try it LOL.

My pain can go away fifty times in a day. Sometimes when it goes away it feels like I couldn't hurt it with a sledge hammer. Sometimes when it goes away the dread goes with it but it always comes back. Usually when it comes back I get a sense of pessimism and the end of the world right before the pain and sometimes (for months on end) the pain will come first. In the mornings I can sometimes go for as long as a couple hours with very very low level symptoms but not so much at night. As long as I avoid the triggers it will usually be OK but there are a lot of triggers.