Thanks all, that's what I was looking for. I was complaining about the burning/cold feeling on a unrelated forum...then someone who had RSD....told me that's what it sounded like to her and also suggested I call MD....so, since I had never heard of it, I looked it up and it scared me to death!
I orig had an open anterior stabilization of the shoulder, because of dislocation during a work injury, it then froze up. Next I had a manual manipulation under anesthesia. Still froze up. Then I had an orthroscopic scar tissue release and bone shaving...but there was so much scar tissue that it could not be released by that method...and since I am a scar tissue grower...yet another surgery would simply encourage more scar tissue growth. I had all the joint injections, pain killers, massage, tens, over 130 physical therapy sessions, and faithfully did my home exercises 3 x a day....
So far WC is treating me pretty well...after the initial pokey-ness of about a year. My health otherwise is pretty shakey too, as at 47 I had open heart 5 x CABG's and a mitral valve replacement (artifical), many other heart ailments that seem to be mounting. Being a coumadin user...ANY surgery is a big production as I have to be weaned off the coumadin & onto 2x daily blood thinner injections 4-5 days prior to surgery....then just the oppostite after surgery getting back onto coumadin. Nothing seems to be simple with me & never has been. If I get sick, it never seems to fail I have tons of complications, other stuff goes wrong...and out patient surgery turns into a 5+ day hospital stay....I'm just scared about the RSD thing....and hopefully I'm just being parinoid.....but my gut feeling is I may be right.
Thanks to all....you are a God send!
Lillyblossom

lilly,

glad to mmet u, tho i wish it had been for a better reason than rsd.

it may not be related since u had shoulder surgery, but frozen shoulder is VERY common among rsd patients.....so try to keep that shoulder moving so it doesn't freeze up again....i know that this is easier said than done (had a frozen shoulder myself and it's an UGLY problem).

welcome aboard!

liz

First of all "WELCOME LILLY"! I was diagnoised with RSD after I had carpal tunnal surgery.The pain, swelling cold hand never went away, then about 2months, the RSD spread up to my shoulder. OMG when I turn or reach out far enough with my right arm.. it feels like someone shot me in the arm, or used an ice pick on me.. OUCH!! I felt pain, burning pain also, swelling in my wrists hand. my right hand and fingers are always cold. I didn't even know this word>RDS was ever out there?? when my Dr. said you most definately have RSD I'm like what is that?? he gave me some things that RSD can do and he said how excited the nerves can be. He then asked me if I had access to a computer to look it up, I said, yes..I found so much stuff about RSD!... I then found this board and the folks on here are my rock!! God is good!! Love Desi