I have rsd in my right leg (5+ yrs) and need advice!
Everyone with rsd/crps is careful about avoiding any accidental bumps and rough handling. We learn to be very cautious bc even glancing contact can be painful. But I'd love to hear how you all out there cope with those occasional stubbed toes, bumps and bangs that leave you crying in agony.

What do you do to help with that intense pain? (Besides retreating to the couch and curling up in a ball?)
Anyone have emergency immediate meds they can take? How long does the intense post accident pain last for you?

I seem to be particularly clutsy lately and hope that someone will have some tips for me.
Thanks and Happy RSD/CRPS awareness month!

I am interested in any answers to this question too as I have been asking both my Gp and pain doc this very question.The answers I have to date is you will have many more episodes like this and there is nothing that will touch that pain.Not the answer I was hoping for but I'm still looking for a better answer.

Good luck in your search Nilophar

I use lidocaine patches and they have absolutely helped my minimize my spread. Taking a bath with Epson salts for a soft tissue injury is a good idea as well, along with taking extra Vitamin C. If you have pain meds, and your prescriptions allow for flexibility in the dosages taken, than it's a good idea to increase your amounts for a few days.

If an accident has caused a major flare and the above don't help, then a stellate ganglion block or ketamine infusion should be considered.

I fell this year & bruised my left knee. The pain is still there. I am waiting for my authorization to see both my neurologist & pain mgment Dr. I will see about those patches!

Welcome nilophar.

When the pain rises for any reasons. I have learned to try and talk the pain down. Sometimes it can take minutes or hours. In all these years you do what you have too! I am so glad there are groups like this online. It is helpful to be able to share with other people. That are suffering with the same pain that each of us are dealing with!!!!LISAR624

I am brand new to NT but thought I'd chime in on this one. A therapist that worked at the outpatient hospital that was taking care of me when I was first diagnosed with RSD had some very old school methods and I loved it. One of the methods that she used when I had a fall or a flare (CPRS in right foot), was to set up 2 containers of water so I could do contrast baths. The containers were like rubber trash cans, the smaller ones like what you would find in an office. One container had cold wAter (approx 70 degrees), the other had warm (approx 106 degrees). I would sit on a chair and put my leg in the warm for 3 minutes and switch to cold for 1 minute. (A thermometer was in the bottom of the container so the temp could get adjusted, those specific temps seemed pretty important to this therapy) Go back and forth 6 times. I did this 3-4 times per day and it was very effective. The only caveat is that on the 6th interval I would stop with warm. Ending o

Thank you I will try anything. In 18yrs I have tried most things. Thank you!! LISAR624

Ending the sessions on warm was what my foot responded to most. It didnt like ending that last interval in cold. I hope you get results from this. Take care!

During and flares ,I use my lidoderm patches ,tramadol ,gabapentin and most important part ,my TENS units is the life saver .
If you don't have a tens units , try to call your pain management dr and he will direct you on how reduce any flares.
Dr have calling response team working out of hours and they will contact your dr ,
Avoid ice or cold . Keep,the areas warm and try the best you can to rest and relax those muscle and nerves ,rest is important also if your mind is too steams .stress can be a trigger as well. Try to relax ,the pain will subside eventually and you will rest as well . Everything we try to relief pain is valid ,hope you feel better soon .gentle hugs ,Jesika .