Feeling kinda silly posting a message but I so need to talk! Feeling as though I am losing my mind!

I will try to keep it short hopefully you will respond.

Had tarsal tunnel release end of Feb. 07. The next morning, extreme burning from foot to upper calf. Worse pain I have ever been in. Drs. order to keep splint and wrap on for 15 days. I had to remove at day 3, to painful. Noticed then the purple color. At 3 week, Dr. said had mild crps. I had never heard of it, and i am ashamed to say i am a nurse. Long story short, now 2 month later. Pain is better, the burner is on simmer. Ankle still swollen, ruddy in color when sitting or standing, normal color when walking. It feel like it is wet at times, but dry when I look. Extremely sensitive, i wear a sock and that helps. The reason i started surfing internet today is to find out if the reason i can not sleep is due to possible crps too? i guess if this is truly crps, it is...right? My case (if it is crps) is mild compared to other i have read about. i pray it stays that way. Any comments? Needing a friend who understands.

hi mrsmac,
Nice to meet you.
Ask any question that you need to ask- we're great at just talking too.
I'm sure someone will be along to help more about the sleep issue.

thanks jo55, nice to meet you too.

Does my story sound crazy or "normal" for crps. Do I need to be committed?

I know RSD can happen from surgeries or even a minor injury, yours showed up after the surgery right ?

I don't know if it would show up so suddenly though??
It almost makes me wonder if you might have been misdiagnosed or if the surgery had a complication.

I think i would see a different doctor for a second opinion- take the surgery notes and any films or test results with you.

I don't have RSD myself , I have TOS {thoracic outlet syndrome} but I read many of the forums and most will suggest a second opinion espcially if post op there is still some problem.
the reason-
>The original surgeon may not want to admit that a mistake might have been made.

our useful links & more thread-
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=247

Hi MrsMac, No you are not crazy, but RSD will and does do crazy things to us. I was just at the DR. this morning and one of my problems is sleep, or I should say lack of sleep. Sometimes I can't stand for my toes to touch the sheets and my back is going into muscle spasms and my arm hurts and the muscles in my leg start cramping along with what feels like bee stings in my foot etc etc. I work all day so I should just fall into bed and not wake up until the next morning. Even when I have a day off the pain is still there. My eyes are so swollen I just look out of tiny slots in the morning.
My RSD is from an auto accident. I know about 10 min. after the accident something was wrong with my hand. I had a fractured sternum, but my hand was swollen on fire and full of PAIN. They could not find one thing wrong with my hand-not at the hospital, not at the Dr. office the following week not after months of PT. Finally a sports Dr. looked at my records and told me what was wrong. Over a year later. I have dystonia in the hand now, but I made it work by using it everyday. I get botox in it to keep the fingers from digging into my palm. All in all I am lucky to have found a wonderful DR. that knows how to treat RSD.
Please do not ever feel you are crazy, believe me I had to pay $90. an hour to find out I wasn't I just did not know who I was with all the strange stuff going on and no one known what was wrong. Of course, if insurance is a factor you are just making it all up. Right- how can you make up something so awful Hugs, Carose

Hey Mrs Mac

Welcome!! (but, sorry you have to join us!). Don't worry - my entire family are medical/ nurses and they didn't know what RSD was - very disturbing as my mother was an orthopeadic nurse before moving into the army.

Sleep problems are all part of RSD - many of us survive on little or no sleep at all for days at a time (though i know others that have almost no sleep problems). These generally appear to be because pain wakes people up, you can't get comfortable, or the alloydinia.

One of the others who is more knowledgable will probaly be more help, but just wanted to say Hi!!!

Froggsy xxxxx

Hi, I'm new here, too.
Not new to RSD, though as I've been dealing with it since '93.
Sleep is a part of it in my case and lots others. Generally, my sleep is a couple hours a night for weeks then maybe a 6 hour stint of sleep every now and again.
It sucks, but on an up side (tongue in cheek) there's lots of time for late night tv viewing of reruns and infomercials and late night internet surfing with no interuptions!
Melatonin does help now and again to push that sleep closer and earlier in the am, but check with your doc first, to be safe, though i've had no bad side effects or interactions.