I have been reading the article Patterns of Spread in RSD, and they explain something called disasociated spread that seems much like what you are describing.. The article is very good and I think it can help your quest for answers.. I am right there too..

http://www.msnusers.com/TheCanadianR...ttachments/207

Good luck to ya Rougue and let me know what you think of the article, I truley think it is one to show your Docs and use in apeals .

Hi Sandra,

Does the article explain why we have the spread? Hugs, Roz xxx

This is the final paragraph before the listed references (this artical was published in jan 2000)

CS, IS and MS may be distinct phenomena and it is
possible to hypothesize different underlying causes for
each. However, it is also possible that all three kinds of
spread may be expressions of a generalized disorder of
CNS regulation of neurogenic infammation. Neurogenic
infammation is almost certainly a multi-dimensional
phenomenon involving, for example, the generation of antidromic
impulses in primary afferent sensory neurons (resulting
in the peripheral release of neuropeptides like substance
P and calcitonin gene-related peptide), an interaction
between primary afferent terminals and the terminals of
postganglionic sympathetic efferents, and CNS regulation
of the immune system's contribution to infammation
(Eliav et al., 1999). Aberrant CNS regulation of neurogenic
inflammation may account for the initial appearance of
CRPS-I/RSD, for all three kinds of spread, for the movement
disorder (Schwartzman and Kerrigan, 1990; Bhatia et
al., 1993; Veldman et al., 1993; Baron et al., 1996), and for
the dysregulation of vasomotor and sudomotor function
(Kozin et al., 1976a,b; JaČnig, 1985; Schwartzman and Kerrigan,
1990; Bej and Schwartzman, 1991; Herrick et al., 1994;
Baron and Maier, 1996; Kurvers et al., 1996; Birklein et al.,
1998; Wasner et al., 1999).:

3.8. Dissociated spread (DS)

In nine cases of IS and MS (patients 3, 5, 8, 10, 17, 18, 21,
22 and 26) we noted a dissociation of spreading symptoms,
J. Maleki et al. / Pain 88 (2000) 259±266 263
where parts of the CRPS-I/RSD symptom complex other
than pain (abnormal vasomotor or sudomotor function,
and/or diffculty with movement) were the first to be noted
in the new area. This phenomenon has been described
previously (Schwartzman, 1995). The variable presentation
of CRPS-I symptoms is well known (Stanton-Hicks et al.,
1995; Baron et al., 1996; Schwartzman, 1996), and it has
been suggested that some patients may present with all of
the symptoms except pain (Blumberg, 1988; Baron et al.,
1996). The signifcance of DS is unclear. In particular, it is
diffcult to say whether or not the appearance of the other
symptoms first implies that they cause the pain.
It does, of
course, suggest the opposite ± that pain need not be the only
cause of the associated symptoms.

Maybe it would be a good idea to at least get xrays of your hands - just to verify that nothing is broke or arthritis has or hasn't set in.

Sandel...This link http://www.msnusers.com/TheCanadianR...ttachments/207
is a "for members only" thing. But thank you for trying anyway.

Buckwheat... no, I am not taking thalidomide. The article is very interesting, though, so it's something I will certainly research and consider. Thanks!

Nikon... it doesn't have an arthritis feel to it, at least not the way I remember my Grandparents feeling. Sorry to hear that they have taken away your choices of SCS or not, that really sucks. You're so right that the more options they remove from the list of "might helps", the more depressing it is. They're such hope killers, grrr.

Jo, I think you're right about the xray. I haven't had one in at least 11 years. Maybe I could get them to take one of my worst foot, too. That's where I worry about the bone density, etc.... it's the site of the original injury and surgery, so it's where the crps would be having the worst impact.

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate you all taking the time for your replies and help. I owe you each one spoon...you can all have them on Monday, and I'll just stay in bed, lol.