Yep, I'm the same Vrae. When I had more burning in the early days with my knee, I had a lot more swelling. Now there is only small swelling, and predominantly it is cold and thin... I hate the cold pain. But I hate the burn too My husband ask me which I preferred.....Hobsons Choice I told him, when it's really cold I think that's the worst - but when it burns up badly, I think that's the worst. It's all horrible.

With the spread of my CRPS, each area has started similarly, and the symptoms have been similar. The coldness is now in my left arm up to my neck, and up my leg to my hip. I get that tingling cold burn and numbness in my fingertips at times, I find stretching out my palms and fingers, and rotating my wrists helps. Doing some desensitization stuff with the pad part helps it too.

Renee, regarding the pins and needles and numbness, I get that sometimes in the mornings. My pain doc said its more likely to be part of the CRPS nerves playing up, especially as its after sleep, when you could have had your arm/wrist/hand in a position that stressed it a bit. Try not to panic. If its happening every morning, or regularly at other times, then definitely get it checked further - but as my doc said, the process of getting checked for other problems is very stressful, and so often it can end up fruitless and part of the CRPS. It's each our own decision as to whether each new symptom is serious enough (in our own opinion) for us to want to pursue every avenue...

I think calm thinking (as relaxing as we can get it lol ) and finding a way to live with the strange and worrying parts of this condition can save us a lot of heartache in the doctors room and hospitals. Of course some stuff is serious and warrants more investigation, and you dont want to overlook it. But we can also end up over thinking this thing to the extent that we are continually worrying about the many things that could be going on. It's a tricky judgement call that would be a lot easier if our general docs sung from the same sheet as us...

Take care Renee, and I hope you get some sleep tonight.

Bram.

Thanks Bram. The coldness I get is usually frequent or when I use my rsd hand or other parts too much so I guess that's the rsd. I do remember my pm dr years ago when I was first diagnosed with rsd saying that I would probably experience temp changes in my body and he always checked my hands to see if that was true. He said that he did notice that my rsd hand was colder than my left hand and more red or purple in color. I had forgotten about that. It just seems like the coldness is spreading and getting worse with my rsd hand (usually when I'm typing with it too much. My pm dr said it was good exercise to type a little to keep my fingers moving, but I think I'm overdoing it because my rsd hand is like ice and crampy after I type. I wish I had money to look into that dragon non typing computer. As for the numbness and pins and needles in the morning, I don't get that all the time, just sometimes like once a week. Thanks for your input on this too. Anyway thanks for your advice and comforting words. I'll try not to worry as much. I've always been a worry wort before having rsd, but since then it's been much worse. But I will try not to let it get to me as much. Stress doesn't help the pain. I just wish I had more control over my body. I do want to only see drs when really necessary or I would be going everyday! I know that after two years there is not much they can do with rsd (thats what my pm dr told me).I try to enjoy the good days as much as I can , because I know that a flare could always be just around the corner like last night. Thanks Bram for your caring and good advice. You are so smart. I always enjoy reading your comments. I hope I can help you too sometime. I know I've been indecisive in the past, but it's just because I react differently to things when I'm in pain as compared to when I'm not. I don't mean to sound like a nut like in my FEAR Thread. and I'm sorry if I did. I hope I can help all of you as much as you've helped me. Thanks again for caring. So far my feet are okay tonight (just a little burning on the top of them but not like yesterday)so I'm hoping I'll get a break tonight. I hope you all have a good night too and thanks to ALL of you for your support, great advice and constant compassion. You are all so knowledgeable and I've learned alot from your comments. I could NOT get through this rsd pain without you. From your forever friend, RSD RENEE.

LOL Renee you're not a nut job! This disease does some strange stuff to us and we all have bad days, over-worried days, stressed days, hopeless days, belligerently-bright-and-optimistic days.... That's what's so fab about this forum - that we all 'get' that stuff too and can empathise.

In that sense, we're ALL a bit nutty....

Bram.

Without a doubt I am certifiable for sure! lol I am the five most interesting people you'll ever meet.

Coldness was also the first symptom I had along with pain. I still have coldness, but not 24/7 like I originally did.

Hi Vrae,
I double checked. My pm dr told me initally that had CRPS I. Without the nerve damage. I'm sorry you have CRPS II. That sounds alot worse. My thoughts are with you. I hope you're feeling okay today and that you didn't get too much snow last night.
From your friend Renee.

I have CRPS type II on my right side from a venipuncture nerve injury 8 years ago to my right arm. My symptoms are worsened under cool or cold conditions, and my right hand often gets cold when I'm on the computer for long periods in a cool room.

One thing that helps me in situations where I need to warm up that arm/hand is to put a ThermaCare heat wrap thingy on my forearm just below the elbow. They react to air when opened and generate a lot of heat for about 8-10 hours. I usually have a stash of the arm/neck ones, which come in red boxes, and cost about $2 each (box of three for ~$6). I use a couple of them each week during the winter. They increase my overall body temp as well, not just my arm. I've never had a rash from the adhesive. Good product.

I've even used them with our boy scouts when they are camping outside in winter. I give them a few hand warmers to put in their pockets, then give them one of these to stick on their body somewhere to keep them warmer overnight.

Good luck!

Annie

I think any form of CRPS is no good, but it might prove helpful in the future knowing which one you have. I could be wrong but it seems like those of us with type II deal with a lot of cold type issue, which was why I asked. Again, I could be wrong on that. Might not be specific at all.

Thanks for asking and I wish I had better news to report, but I am still struggling with this darn sinus/bronchitis crap.... ug! Virus' seem to make my CRPS more profound or maybe my tolerance is just lower.

They forecasted snow, but only the mountains got any. HOWEVER it will be in the single digits tonight. I can hardly wait.

I hope you're having a better day today! Take care hon.

This is a terrific idea Annie! Thanks for sharing!

I have a small plug-in heated pad - like a mini-electric blanket - that I use to wrap round my knee if it's feeling kind of mega-chilly-polar-bear-eating-Haagen-Dazs-sitting-on-an-iceberg.... I find if I can bring it back to near normal temperatures fairly quickly (but gently) then it feels easier all round.

I feel I should get a small prize for the winner of Most Hyphens Used In A Fairly Short Post. Lol.

Feeling kind of silly this evening

Hugs to all in need of one tonight

Bram.