[DreamPoet]

Hello! As the title states, I'm new to this forum and new to RSD. I broke my lefy scaphoid bone (wrist bone) in half in October 2006. Three weeks later I had surgery to fix it. I was in a cast for about six weeks after surgery then started PT where they treated me with heat and ice, along with exercises. The pain and swelling were horrible, and the PT was concerned...even suggested that I could have RSD. Finally, after feeling my doctor was not being truthful with me, I went to a hand specialist in March. To make a long story a little shorter, the first doc had put the screw in at the wrong angle and it was stabbing through the bone and grinding into another bone. I finaaly had surgery June 22 to remove the screw, which miraculously he was able to remove without removing the bone. My wrist had been immobilized from March 6 to July 6...plus the two months before and after the original surgery that messed everything up. The screw did a lot of damage.

I started hand rehabilitation therapy last week, and the PT told me I have RSD. I think my doc may have mentioned it, too, the day the bandages came off. They used ice on my wrist at the end of therapy last Wednesday, and the swelling and stiffness have been really bad ever since...no matter how much I do the exercises and stretches.

My family doc told me a little over a year ago that I have fibromyalgia. Anyone know anything about a link or issue with the two diseases?

Well, that's my story so far. I look forward to chatting with everyone.

[sue k]

Hi Dreampoet,
Welcome. This is a great place. I know that you will find many friends here. Iam sorry that you have RSD but everyone here understands and are willing to help. This site has saved me.

Sue K.

[dawn3063]

DreamPoet,

First, I want to say Never let anyone ever put Ice on you again... ICE ON RSD IS A BIG NO...It will make it much worse...
Also you need to find yourself a Good Pain Management Doc that treats RSD on a regular basis now.. You need to get started on a series of Stellate Ganglion Blocks to try and place this in remission..

I am sorry to hear that you have gone thru such horrendous care with your wrist... That is awful. You have certainly come to the right place for support and understanding. I have recently been diagnosed with RSD and found this forum to be full of wonderful people that are full of information and support.

There are many sites that are full of great information that you may find helpful. The useful links site from the top of this page is full of information http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=247

www.rsds.org
www.rsdhope.org
www.rsdrx.com
www.rsdinfo.com

These are just a few that can get you started. There is a wealth of information for you to read up on...

Also there is a Fibro Forum here http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12 They have some useful sites listed in the top left of the page.

I wish you the best...

&
Dawn

[JOAN_M]

hi phyllis,
welcome to the forum. use the search space to see lots of good info on the topic of your choice. there is a bunch of info there.
yes, ice is a swear word to rsd-ers unless it is in your drink!
sounds like you have had quite a time of it. i hope you find a good doctor. my advice is always do your own reseach and choose your own course of care and meds. no one knows more about you that you do. every case of rsd i have read of, and that is many, is different and people choose different paths. so read read read and ask away if you have questions. joan

[dreambeliever128]

Welcome to the group.

You will learn so much if you stay here with us.

I have both Fibro and RSD and several on here do. I was diagnosed with both about the same time.

As they said you need to find you a good PM Dr. for the RSD. I would also find a good Rheumetologist for the Fibro. Some PM's can deal with both but Rheume's seem to know a lot about the Fibro.

As soon as you find a good Dr. Ask about blocks to help try and put it into remission. For some it works and others it doesn't but I swear by the blocks. I've seen a lot of good success with them.

It's too bad that you were put through so much to fix your wrist. I've had many surgeries and have been blessed with good luck in the results but I see so many who don't.

There mayb be someone here in your area also that might be able to give you the name and no. of a good Dr. If you could give the name of a big city you are near there might be someone here that is in that area to lead you in the right direction of a good Dr.

I hope you do hang around. You will enjoy the company because we all have so much in common. More so then people living around us.

Ada

[DreamPoet]

Thanks everyone for your welcoming spirit. I tend to "just deal" with pain...thank God He gave me a high pain tolerance. I've read so much the last few days about RSD, and I don't have it anywhere near as bad as so many. I didn't even know what it was until last Wednesday when I came home and looked it up online. I know God will give me the strength to deal with whatever path He has set before me...I know He's still in control. Thanks again for welcoming me and for the advice.

[dreambeliever128]

It's one thing to have a high pain tolerance but it's another to think that a person can just deal with RSD pain.

You aren't giving RSD enough credit. Since you only found out what it was Wed that is not enough time to know what it can do. It can spread to other parts of the body. Blocks can help put it into remission sometimes before it get worse.

If it's just set in in the past month or two then it may not be at it's worst yet.

As you stay on here you will learn from others that it is something you just don't learn to live with without medical care and meds to help through it. The pain can come to a point to where a person is suicidal and also commit suicide from it. We have lost several on here due to the RSD pain.

I do hope you learn more about it and find out the extent of what it can do to a person. There are several on here that are full bodied and in wheelchairs due to spread. It doesn't just go away.

Again, welcome to the group.

Ada

[Desi]

[/COLOR]

Originally Posted by DreamPoet

Thanks everyone for your welcoming spirit. I tend to "just deal" with pain...thank God He gave me a high pain tolerance. I've read so much the last few days about RSD, and I don't have it anywhere near as bad as so many. I didn't even know what it was until last Wednesday when I came home and looked it up online. I know God will give me the strength to deal with whatever path He has set before me...I know He's still in control. Thanks again for welcoming me and for the advice.

Hi ya Phyllis! Welcome!! We love having "new people on here".. but hate the fact that you may have RSD. Anyway.. that you went threw this awful pain and happy to know that you put your hope and trust in Jesus Christ!! wonderful!! Yes, sweetie God will give you the strength to deal with whatever He has set before you! What a friend"we have in Jesus", Huh?? anyway, thanks Dawn for putting up the web sites for our new friend Phyllis! You are an amazing woman Phyllis, may I add. please know that we all know what you are going through and the support here is "AWESOME" Love, Desi

[DreamPoet]

It's frustrating to have my fingers stiffen up constantly, even though I'm continually doing the exercises to stretch the tendons...stop for a minute and you would swear you had never done any stretches. It's my left hand and wrist, and I was left-handed before I broke my wrist. I knew the screw had done a lot of damage, but I was hoping that it would start getting better since the screw actually came out without having to cut or remove bone. I have absolutely no strength in that hand now. At least it's not as swollen and purple as it was before the screw was removed!

Forgive me for sounding like I'm whining. I know most of you deal with a whole lot worse with this stuff. I just felt like I could vent here. Thanks for letting me.

Desi, it's good to know there are others on here who are staying strong in Christ...supporting each other.

By the way, I live near Fresno, California. The hand specialist I'm going to is great. If anyone knows of good doctors in the area, let me know.

[Desi]

Hi Phyllis! I went on your site!! so amazing!! I will private message you(pm) (upper right corner at the top of the page) Love, Desi