What is the alcohol on the affected area test?? I have not heard of this.

thnx,
Cala

You can't really diagnose anything yourself but I found an old test that was sometimes used to check for RSD online. Obviously I don't know if this would be positive for other conditions and doubt it always works for RSD.

You just put a little isopropyl alcohol on the hand or whatever and see what happens. When I do it I get a rapid increase in pain. Even water evaporating from my hand will cause pain so I have to dry it immediately. I get a little pain just thinking of putting alcohol on it.

1. Diagnosed in 2004 at age 34
2. 1998 - Car accident head on (lady talking on cell phone driving on wrong side of highway??? go figure), hit left wrist on dash and smashed side of head into side of window, 2nd accident 8 months later - hit from behind - 4 herniated discs lumbar spine and 2 herniated cervical spine. Made condition worse, starting in left hand, arm and left side of face.
3. Suggested RSD by 6th doctor in 2001 by neurologist, final diagnosis 3 years later by 2 doctors at rehabilitation\pain management doctors, many doctors and many tests. Now condition is both arms, hands and starting left foot. Face condition has disappeared.

Like most people, unhappy with my doctors but have been to all in 60 mile radius and a couple in another state.

Good questions.

1. Diagnosed in August 1999 age 52.


2. Injury occured April 1999. Fx 2 bones in right foot while making a visit to a hospice patient.


3. Dianosed by Orthopedic surgeon.


Great thread,

Barb2406

I sustained a colles compound wrist fracture in 1998. Up to 37% of wrist fracture patients develop CRPS. In 200 Dr P Zollinger discovered that taking vitamin C immediately following trauma nad for 50 days or till pain ceases can prevent development of CRPS. I wish I had known. Now Professor Scott Reuben in the USA has developed protocols to help prevent CRPS post surgery. They also have protocols for dental work. These protocols also prevent further complication for CRPS sufferers who undergo surgery.

jeisea
http://www.crps-rsd-a-better-life.blogspot.com

Hi The reason it hurts is because isopropyl alcohol cools down the body!! remember yrs. ago when baby had a high fever, this alcohol was used to give babies a alcohol sponge bath? it cools the body down. Just like ice, we can't use this on our RSD areas because it just makes this worse, as does the "Isopropyl alcohol treatment"!! I have NEVER heard of this in my life?? take care. Love, Desi

I had a hip replacement done on feb.15, 1999. Woke up with right foot drop I was told my siatic nerve had been damaged during the operation due to so much bone being eaten away by arthritis. I kept seeing the Dr. and nothing was helping the pain. After 3 mo. he sent me to the pain clinic and 2 weeks later I was told that I have RSD Type 2.

Sue K.

My husband had ingrown toe nails removed in 2002. He knew right away something was very wrong. He has not had a pain free day since. It has traveled up both legs to right above his knees and last year showed up in his hands and is trying to continue into his arms. He was 47 years old. The doctor that did the toe nail removal did not recognize the symptoms at the follow up appointment one week after surgery. Nor did he suspect anything after 2 phone calls over the next 2 weeks complaining of the classic systoms of RSD. I diagnosed it myself from researching on line before going to a neurologist. He asked whom had diagnosed RSD and we said i did and he said "it isn't RSD it is PN". His ego wouldn't allow me to be correct. We did go to another neurologist at an University Hospital who concerred with my diagnosis. However no treatment received for 16 months after initial toe nail removal. This has been a very long nasty nightmare ever since.

1) when/ 2005 (42)

2) how/ a car tire actualy ran across the outside of my upper foot and over my ankle bone and stopped on the very back part of my heel, this was as I attempted to exit the low back seat of a car, the driver noticed and fumbled around (for like ever!) before she finaly found reverse then drove back over it again.

3)
* I started complaining to docs about odd sensations and pain pretty early after injury but my rt foot was black for along time, very agressive physio 2-3 months later on my calf edema made it escalate and spread.

* I suspected RSD after a WCB case worker read off symptoms etc over the phone to me @ 3 months after injury, an Orthotic surgeon had written "suspect RSD" on my WCB report.

* Diagnosis at 5 months post injury by a WCB doctor, they put me back physio insted of the blocks that were requested by myself and 2 doctors.

* WCB finaly sends me for blocks @ 9 months post accident, by then I had body wide (ignored by docs) symptoms, bilateral lumbar blocks for 3 month pain clinic stay.

* WCB sends me home @ 1 year when rt foot stops getting benifit they cared about no other area pain, or even that the left leg was still benifiting from the blocks, only the right compensable foot. matters to them. rt foots only worth 6.25% of my income and I cannot work.
System sucks.

1. 2001; 42
2. Breastcancer-surgery
3. DX after 1 year, Neuro