i have been dx'd with rsd all but one dr. says rsd, but they all seem confused at the same time. one dr. said since light touch is severely painful that is a classic symptom of rsd . isn't light touch and breezes causing pain also a symptom of peripheal nerop? what is the final confirmation of rsd. how many of us could be wrongly dx'd is it possibble?? thank you gail

Here is a lsit of symptoms of pn:

http://millercenter.uchicago.edu/lea...outpn/symptoms

with rsd you have the swelling, discoloration and i believe much more pain.
i have both so i never know which is from which ...
sorry you have this monster but welcome and use the search space to get lots of info on how rsd shows itself to different people.
joan

I think the difference is bc RSD has colour changes and vary and be mottled and burning pain, and also show bone changes.. yes prob neuropathy does too, but prob not to the extant that you cant wear a sock or shoe or have your sheets on your bed send you through the roof like RSD can.. if you are having doc's saying different things, i would be questioning too.. have you seen a PM doc?? have you had a block.. they are used sometimes to tell the difference!!


Amber

http://www.rsdalert.co.uk/FAQ/watsymptoms.htm
good rsd list for ya ....

Hi Gail and a "HUGE WELCOME"! I was in denial of my RSD until?? hmmmmm. don't know?well it took 5 doctors and 2 specialists to conferm what the first Dr. said was RSD. Great having you aboard Gail! Love, Desi

I have had PN for many years,this week i was in the hospital and
diagnosed with RSD.
So i will answer about the PN,I have a very hard time wearing a shoe,
socks and can't stand the pain or weight from a sheet. Mine is in the
feet to knees, hands to elbows,across back to shoulder. If the Neuro Dr.
sticks pins i don't feel it. I have a hard time with balance and must
use a walker you put your hands through or electric wheelchair. The pain
can be tingling,burning,spams,electrical shocks and worst at times.
I also have wasting away of muscle,fatigue. There are over 200 kinds
I have got Polyneuropathys. I will stop now but it's can be very pain
full you can get a short rest and the pain will start and knock me
on my fanny again. Awind blowing feeling or light touching would not
hurt in the area the nerves are dead.
I was in a headon collision yrs back and the Drs. feel this has caused the
RSD so far,my leg is a mess and the red area burns like i would think
a 3rd degree burn would feel. And it's very painfull as well,they are alike
in someways but different ways. All i can say is oh no. There 's burning with
PN but not the same. I was a ER Truma Nurse for 25 yrs. my heart goes
out to you all. Now i really got you confused,i have been reading your
posts. Sue

After participating at a local pain lecture the pain specialist explained it as all chronic pain with SNS symptoms as neuropathetic in nature..shingle, pn, RSD, cancer pain and other disorder causing chronic pain syndrome as now called neuropathetic pain or the latest reflex neuropathetic pain syndrome. Some disorders affect the overall symptoms a little different but neruopathic pain or chronic pain is the bottom line.

Hope this helps as it sure helped me understand what was happening to me!

RSD1864

Oh my goodness, Sue!! Lady I really feel bad for you!! I had no idea that you had so much going on with you, sweetie!! Head on collision? I thank God your alive to tell your story!! I am praying for you, as well as every single person on this board. This beast of a disease don't care who it hurts! Love ya bunches Lady!! Love (((hugs Sue))) Desi

Hi Gail!

That is a very good question! Seems I have similar experiences with doctors.

About 3 years ago my doctor sent me to a neuro doc because he said I had classic PN. The neuro did a EMG with the needle part, and said I had a pinched nerve at the L5 - S1. He told me I needed surgery, and made an appointment with the surgeon.

The surgeon sent me for an MRI so they could see where the damage was, but came back telling me that my back was fine. When I pressed her about what could be wrong she said "have I ever heard of RSD?".

I had not, and my doctor did not agree with her, and decided it must be a vascular problem after all. I actually believed that it was vascular related because a few years before this a doctor accidently blocked the femoral artery after a angiogram. A week later they had me in surgery to save the leg.

No doctor to this point would acknowledge that the blocked artery could cause my problems.

So off to the vascular surgeon. He confirmed it was caused from the blocked artery, and also confirmed that it is RSD. He also told me that the doctors that took out the clot knew there would be a very good chance it would cause neuropathy, and should have began treatments for it.

That said, to this day doctors still try to send me for back surgery, even with MRI's showing no damage. Thank goodness surgeons arent dumb enough to operate lol. Seems that some dont want to say RSD.

Anyways this shows how hard it is to differentiate between the two. I do hope you have better luck than I am with the doctors/surgeons.