I have had full body RSD for over 10 years now. Now having major depression big time! My Dr. put me on a tapering down Prednisone x 2. Was just doing some research on both. However it seems that every time I am done to the last tab I just fall back into this dark zone? Just seems to me that RSD and Lupus have a lot in common which I did not know before? Thoughts?

Hi Breezy,

Sorry to hear you keep getting back to a dark spot. Steroids can be difficult to come off of and can leave you feeling pretty rotten in the aftermath if you have been on them for any more than a few days. On the Lupus thing, it seems that a lot of the collagen vascular disorders share some similarities with CRPS. That whole vasculitic rash thing, color changes, etc. Just another reason to get a thorough work up. If you are concerned and haven't seen rheumatology you could always go. Just keep in mind that steroids will blow your blood work for inflammatory markers, I don't know for how long. ANA, sed rate and C-reactive protein tend to be negative in CPRS from what I have read and are clearly elevated in rheum conditions. I had mine checked in the beginning just to be sure. They were almost undetectable. Strange to me that we can have a neuroinflammatory condition with normal markers but I guess it all stays in the limb. Do you have a therapist? God knows we need support coping with this crappy disease. Hang in there, we've all got to stick together and get each other through.

Sending Healing Love and hoping you feel better soon,
Littlepaw

Hi Breezy,
I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. This monster we got sucks big time!
You gave me something to ponder on though. I'm starting to get depressed a bit more than usual myself.
Be well...