[Mdazzle5]

Hi everybody!

Before sharing my experience with RSD, I first want to say that for the past couple of months, I've been reading these forums and hoping that people are finding relief in their symptoms and pain. Before getting diagnosed with it, I never heard of RSD and I think it's really crazy to see how so many people struggle with it and it goes so unnoticed by doctors and by a lot of other people who aren't informed about it.

Anyways, I'm currently 20 years old and I got diagnosed with RSD a month ago. I was studying abroad in Ireland and suddenly felt this terrible pain down my left arm and didn't sleep for days because of it. I ended up leaving my semester abroad early in March because I wasn't getting any legitimate answers from doctors in Ireland (they told me to go back to the dorm and rest and stay distracted- didn't give any pain meds) and because I was having suicidal thoughts because of the pain.

Since being home, I've been diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and I have minor degeneration in my lower back in my SI joints from a past injury. I was given my diagnosis of RSD a month ago, which according to my doctors puts me at better odds of remission. For medication, I've been taking Gabapentin, Turmeric, Magnesium Citrate, Zoloft, omega 3 with multivitamins, and melatonin for sleeping. I've been going to hypnosis, acupuncture, and CBT for managing pain and stress.

Since being new to this, I guess I have a lot of questions for everyone on this forum. I of course want to hear more about your stories and things that have worked for you. So, I hope you all don't mind if I fire away some general questions that I can't seem to get solid answers from my doctors.

1) What therapies have worked for you all? I think I'm struggling with finding the balance between pushing myself too little and too much. My PT plan is kind of unorganized at the moment with water therapy, so I've been doing my other stretches but I don't feel like they are doing much.
2) which kind of leaves me to the next question... What are some strategies for dealing with the overall joint stiffness?
3) I've read that cold is absolutely terrible for crps, so what's the best remedy for the increased sensitivity and burning sensation? I guess it's just really strange because I would think to put ice on it to relieve the warmness, but it's not too advised from what it seems.

I appreciate you all for reading over this. My questions at this point are pretty general because I'm trying to get a grasp on this thing because I can see it sucking the life out of it. It's also been difficult because while I have an awesome group of friends and a caring family, they can't fully understand my situation and it makes it hard for me to talk to them about it for that reason. It feels like a lonely process, so I thought I would reach out on this forum and join to put myself out there and also listen and toss out anything that's worked for me so far.

Thanks!