Any types of exercise you can tolerate is porobably fgood for you no matter what your condition. My problem is that I don't know I can't tolerate it for a day or two.

I find all kinds of stretching and water exercises to be well tolerated. If you can't stand cold water on your affected limb just get gloves (boots) and work in warm water. You can always splurge and get scuba equipment if covering it isn't enough.

Yoga sounds like it's so good for you, but I have a bum knee now and it just was too hard to do a lot of the moves/positions.

Someone once had a list of stretches and exercises you could do in bed - I want to search and try to find that. Anything is better than nothing!

EDIT - rats, I can't find it! I searched for a while and just can't find it. If anyone finds it, please let me know!

I have been researching all types of "non traditional" forms of treatment. The majority of these are noninvasive so I feel more comfortable trying a few. The websites that were shared have proven to be extremely helpful.

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has shared on this topic! And I am open to any other suggestions or input anyone else has.

Kris,

You are absolutely correct and good for you for being open minded enough to try a few different things! As you mentioned, most of these are noninvasive and are relatively easy to experiment with.

It's so very, very hard to put numbers on pain but I will venture to say that I've decreased my pain (or possibly my "perception" of pain", but hey perception is reality when it comes to pain) by 30% or more with the complementary therapies that I have introduced into my daily routine.

Go slow and have patience. Good luck and be sure to keep us updated!!

Hi NurseKris,

Since you asked, a non-traditional treatment (and non-invasive, too) is Calmare. We had great results with my daughter's RSD (and also me with fibromyalgia). There are threads here on it - in fact, I'm going to add my update right after this post here. It's not covered by most insurances yet, but I wrote a 3-page letter to my insurance company, explaining how it's a lot cheaper than the SCS we were going to get implanted, plus years and years of drugs, and they actually decided to cover it. Unfortunately, we then changed insurances! so I have to start the appeal process again.

Anyway, IMO it's worth a try. Be sure to get a dr. that's gone thru the training - not just one that has the machine. We've gone to 4 dr.'s now, and IMO the guy in NJ is the best by FAR. And most dr.'s will now not charge you for the first treatment if it doesn't show the signs of working, so all you lose is time.

Anyway, just FYI :-) and I hope you find some good treatments that work for you!


EDIT - another thing that's just darn fun and can get your mind off the pain (I'm having a rough pain day today) - someone showed me this great link where they have a webcam to a bald eagle nest. Bald Eagles mate for life and use the same nest, and it is just the coolest thing to watch them sit on the eggs, then take care of the tiny little eaglets, then watch the eaglets grow so fast, and then fledge and fly away. It's here - hope you like it! The first egg showed up last week, I think, then the second a few days later. They should hatch pretty soon.