Just my opinion...but given your negative response in other areas I would strongly recommend against the use of ice anywhere else. Short term numbing might feel okay at the time...but the long term results of use could be a disaster. Like I said before...my own experience after being told to ice my initial RSD site for months was that it made things worse and caused the condition to progress faster (and greatly lessened the likelihood of remission once I finally got the treatments I needed). Much better in my opinion to play it safe and work towards remission in those areas that aren't as bad vs taking the risk of potentially sabotaging your chances at remission through the use of ice now. Not trying to scare you...but that's how I view things especially in your situation where the ice DOES negatively affect you in the worst areas.

Wow, thanks for saying that. I didn't make the connection from your earlier comment. I will sadly banish ice. I say sadly because it was the only thing that helped to relieve some of the flames flying off my shoulder blade.

It is a sad thing. I got a really bad muscle strain in my shoulder at the end of September and unfortunately ice is one of the primary treatments...and I can't use ice so it has been a longer recovery period than I would have liked. Until you can't use ice...you don't realize how much it is used for. Trying to get the pain under control is such a long, slow process sometimes...especially when you are limited in what you can try. Avoid the ice and avoid immobilization...everything beyond that is going to be trial and error...and a slow process of figuring out how much to push yourself without pushing too far. Such a balancing act...I get so frustrated by it sometimes that I just want to scream...but that's my life now. I hope you find something soon that can help you with the pain. Hugs.