This has been a fear of mine and to hear it first hand I have the greatest sympathy for you....sorry I don't have any answers to give you right now....I was told by my neurologist that CRPS does not cause atrophy....but the medical field doesn't understand CRPS...please keep us posted....

"Making the Diagnosis of RSD / CRPS

The diagnosis of RSD / CRPS can be made in the following context. A history of trauma to the affected area associated with pain that is disproportionate to the inciting event plus evidence at some time for one or more of the following: •Abnormal function of the sympathetic nervous system, e.g., abnormal changes in skin blood flow, sweating or goose flesh.
•Swelling.
•Movement disorder.
•Changes in tissue growth (dystrophy and atrophy)."

http://www.rsdfoundation.org/en/en_c...uidelines.html

Although staging is no longer done (same link):

"STAGE III

1.Marked wasting of tissue (atrophic) eventually become irreversible.


2.For many patients the pain becomes intractable and may involve the entire limb.


3.A small percentage of patients have developed generalized RSD affecting the entire body. "

I'd question how experienced your neurologist with RSD/CRPS patients.

I don't remember Deb posting in a long time. Hopefully she'll pop back in.

Hi Deb,

Sorry to hear of your plight. After ruling out other ominous causes for unexplained weight loss and assuming it is truly related to RSD, I have read that for other muscle wasting illnesses, some docs will use testosterone supplementation slow or reverse the process. Worth asking about I suppose?

I also had this. I went to a doctor overseas who did extensive testing. I know take things that put in muscle mass although I still have to take things that decrease inflammation. with inflammation a person will lose muscle mass no matter what. I take paleo diet ( makes big difference) testosterone, thyroid, DHEA, low dose cortisol, bio identical hormones. Theramine has helped to decrease the inflammation and pain and I was getting bleeding with any use of right fingers from CRPS. The theramine decreases inflammation. Also had stool testing and take pro biotics. I had not realizes what a difference it makes what bacteria we have in our gut. Had lost 20 pounds and now put it all back on. Good luck.