I'm not sure if I am in the right place, but, want to know....can RSD spread from my right arm down to my right leg??? I have had RSD for 10 yrs and it started with my wrist. All kinds of treatments, then I had problems with the bottoms of my feet, burning, hurt to walk. THEY said it was periferal neuropathy(sp). My neurontin was increased. My hand has flared up off and on these past several yrs but, I thought I was doing pretty good, in remission maybe? and I have been handling it all. I have started having some rt knee trouble off and on, but, did not pay it any mind hardly, just accepted it as par for the course. July Fourth my knee swelled up, almost froze up, severe pain, could hardly walk, had to manually force it to bend which was excruciating!!! I stayed off of it on Thursday and kept it elevated that night, slept at night with my knee bent manually every time I woke up, trying to keep it from freezing. I thought I was doing better, but called my PN Dr for an appmt. They got me in yesterday. He had been pretty nice these past few years with just my once a year visit to be checked out and have my meds renewed ( he had taken over my case when my original PM DR. moved to Arizona-boo hoo) He told me he did not think RSD can spread from the rt. hand to the rt. leg--it could spread from my rt. hand to my left hand. He said since my knee was not swollen up like a basketball and was not black in color, it probably was not RSD/!! He ordered an MRI and said I might have a pinched nerve?? We went downstairs and canceled the Mri after some discussion, then my husband went back up there and asked if we could go back to my primary Dr. and have him send me to an Orth,Dr. which was his 2nd suggestion. Now we are waiting to hear back from WC (yes it was a WC over-use case, and we have been thru the rat-race with getting things done, but, we hav't given up yet). He said he just doen't think RSD can spread in this order and doesn't want to blaim everything on RSD, thus going the other routes of action. I know what childbirth contractions feel like, I know what back-pain nerve/disc pain is--I had back surgery 25 yrs ago, and I know what my RSD pains felt like when they were in my rt arm, and these pains I have been having in my rt leg are the same, I just need some kind of infor. to send him or to give him when I go back to my followup visit in 2 wks to show him that RSD can spread anyway it decides to spread, without insulting his ego. Here I just wrote a note of encouragement to everyone wishing them a pain-free day, and now I'm back in the ole painful trap, just a different limb, or rather out on a limb if my PM DR. does not decide to become more educated on this RSD problem.
I hate to think about going back to court and fighting the battle all over again, but, if my PN DR. doesn't back me up, the WC Insur. Co. sure will not want to do their part. I know they have been paying a lot for my meds all of these yrs and I have had to fight them half of the time, but, I would rather they had the RSD and I had their job--I would be a little more sympathetic than they have been that's for sure. I still work a full time job and I don't need this flare-up right now, but, I should have known it would come back--I just need some proof of some kind. Most of the time my husband has been real helpful and supportive. When this started up years ago and we were all trying to find out what was wrong, he wasn't quite as supportive, but, it was because he couldn't do anything to fix it, and he was frustrated. I did not want him to "fix it" I just wanted him to help me get thru the painful times, to hold me (gently) and to love me. He has been there thru thick and thin--40 yrs. He has been very helpful when it came to going to the Drs. office and to the lawyers office. I felt great knowing he was there beside me, I also have a memory problem with all of this, and I always needed another person there to help me take notes of what was said....and what was not said. Can it spread this way--I think it can, I KNOW it can because it has already done it, I can feel the same pain. TK

Hey TK

Welcome!

Simple answer - RSD can move anywhere and do whatever it feels like really!!

It can spread in all sorts of ways - across, down, or just move round randomly. My first spread was right arm to right leg. There is quite alot of info about spreading and RSD out there - and Molly (I think) got a load of articles about it and posted it on NT!

I hate manually bent joints!! It hurts so much!

Hang on in there and good luck with WC!
Love

Froggsy xxxxxxxx

Hi! ya.. yes, like Froggsy said;"this RSD can move anywhere and do as it darn well pleases. hang in there, we're here for you. welcome love, Desi :0)

As Frogga says it can go anywhere. I started out with it in my right arm and hand from TOS surgery. It then went to my right foot and later up to my knee. I also have it in my pelvic area from surgery, I have been told I have it in my right side, I have had it mirror over to the left side. It's wierd when it mirrors. Where ever it hurts the worst in the right arm it feels the same in the left. Like hot spots.

When you have a surgery it spreads, if you have another injury, no matter how light, it can spread.

I'm sure many will find you some info on it. I am thinking that there might be some in Dr. Hooshmand's puzzle.

Your Dr. doesn't stand out in the crowd. There are way too many out there that know nothing about RSD and don't want to know. I wish that would change but it doesn't seem to be happening, maybe only at a snails pace.

Ada

I was just recently told by a doctor that it is not uncommon for RSD to spread to the entire limb of an affected area.

Here is a link for more information:

http://rsdhope.org/ShowPage.asp?PAGE_ID=79

Hugs. Sorry your remission seems to be on hold.

I lost you all, but, meanwhile in trying to find my way back, I read a WHOLE LOT of your comments about this HORRIBLE disease--THANK-YOU for your responses--I have been SO-O-O lucky these past years when my RSD has been in "semi-remission" if that is what it could be called. My pain has ranged from about a 2-3? to about a 7-8 and that was when I would have a flareup in my rt hand. Now that I had the bad pain again in my right knee and the freezing up in the joint and the pain of just trying to manually move the joint into a kneebend and back out straight, I can hardly stand to think that this is truly the RSD starting to spread. I hope my PN Dr. is right and it is a pinched nerve-ha, or an orthopedic problem-ha again! Thank-you for sharing your pain and your medication and treatment on this website--I know that there is something to look forward to, even if it is a lot more pain in store, I can at least give my Dr. some of your examples--this is good!!! I normally try to keep myself in an "upbeat" attitude, but, I am really low right now. Yes I am thankful for the time I have had with my family, but, I am not ready to turn loose of them and to turn inwards to the depression which will come when this old pain becomes too much--and that is what happens when my body is overcome with all of that pain--I can hardly stand the thought of it,,,oh shoot now I'm crying--gotta go now--thanks again so much and may the dear Lord comfort and heal all of you, or all of us--with love and best wishes--Tommie.