I have to comment on the "stress" thing...

Stress is not an explanation for any physical disease. It's used as such an explanation (incorrectly) by the general population, and therefore I think we should all be very careful about how we use the term.

Does stress put us at a greater risk for RSD? I highly doubt it. I think that it's an unfair generalization, just as some doctors have tried to psychologically profile RSD patients as being "perfectionists" or "type A personalities." None of this is true. We are all just as different in personality as the general population. I guess if they didn't say we were all perfectionists, they'd be saying that we're all lazy. It's just another way of delegitimizing this disease.

The truth of the matter, of course, is that *everybody* has stress. Certainly, some people have more stress than others, and it can contribute, to some degree, to health problems. However, there's no real information that says that stress leads to RSD. There's some research about stress and heart disease, but the idea about stress leading to RSD is purely speculation on the part of a few doctors and patients who attempt to tie together their own experience to explain RSD.

The biggest stress I've had in my life has stemmed directly from RSD. Before I got RSD, I don't believe that I had any more stress than the average 12-year-old.

Joan has a point about stress making people possibly more susceptible to health problems, but please remember that nobody has ever found a direct cause-and-effect relationship, and that generalizations such as that are dangerous, especially when nobody wants a doctor to tell you, "oh, it's just because there's too much stress in your life."

-Betsy

Hi Betsy!! I just wanted to say that everyone is different when it comes to this horrid beast we have! I know for myself that my pain levels increase when my stress level is higher. Sometimes even the simple rustling of a newspaper or the soft touch of my husband, daughter sends my pain through the ceiling. I know also that I am easily irritated, problems sleeping. These symptoms are real, I know I am NOT crazy, the pain and symptoms are not in my head. All I'm pointing out here, is how each of us can and is different when it comes to RSD?CRPS This is a terriable thing that we are facing. as, RSD/CRPS is an involvement of the nerves, skin, muscles, blood vessls(Causing constriction and pain) as well as bones. mine has spread from my hand and wrist, up to my entire right arm and shoulder RSD is ranked as the MOST painful form of chronic pain that exists today. This can spread from one part of the body to another regardless of where the original injury occurred; and RSD/CRPS can spread(I had a PMD who told me this can't spread, and when it spread up to my shoulder.. he told me it was "Frozen shoulder"!frozen shoulder, my ***.. LOL anyway up to 70% of cases this can spread and in a small number of cases 18% or less it can become systemic or body wide. ok.. now.. I know, I am going on and on, but bottom line is everyone is different with this RSD as I was saying eariler in this post. I for one am more prone to stress when it comes to RSD/CRPS Much love, Desi

ok.. just reread your post Betsy.. here your talking about that stress can't lead to RSD.. ok.. I so agree with you on this one!!that I read and didn't even "THINK"!! before I wrote .. And you said that "The biggest stress you had in your life has stemmed directly from RSD!! I so agree, so again, I'm sorry. A HUGE YES TO THAT IT IS THE MOST STRESS that I have ever had in my life too. I was saying in my post eariler, that stress is a major factor in RSD.. blah.. blah.. I need my head examined or a nap?? LOL Love, Desi

Don't worry about it, Desi. I think it's expected that when you already have RSD, increased stress isn't going to exactly help pain levels!

Sometimes I write in a very nuanced fashion, and it's possible that I'm the only one who understands what I really mean! I wasn't really trying to draw conclusions, only saying that we need to be careful about speaking of stress as a cause of RSD. In my experience, it only leads to misunderstandings and problems. How many of us have been told, "oh, it's only stress"?? Comments like that stress me out!

I think we've all experienced something like that at one time or another. I know I'm not the only one who is bothered when what we're going through is belittled as something that anyone can understand. This isn't a paper cut or a pulled muscle. It isn't caused by stress at work or home. Whatever causes it, RSD is a serious illness.

I hope that clarifies what I was trying to get at!

-Betsy

Thanks to everyone for their responses.

I must say that I am 100% certain that stress contributed to the development of my RSD. Perhaps it isn't so in everyone, but it is in me. That doesn't mean that it is psychosomatic or that I am imagining it, but it does mean that stress predisposed me to this, as probably did many things.

I was in a job that had unbearable stress when I began getting initial symptoms of RSD. I was enraged and exhausted all the time though didn't resign since there were redeeming things about my job (mainly the kids - I am a teacher). Finally, I did resign due to my health issues, but I believe many months before that my job was going to cause my health to suffer.. and it did.

I know my nervous system was in overdrive with the rage I was feeling constantly. I also have another autonomic nervous system dysfunction and my health has probably been compromised due to radiation/cancer. I'm sure there are many contributing factors for me.

Hi Sandy and welcome to the NT board. Sandy, I am so sorry that you had and still have so much on your plate. Where is your RSD at? Wishing you all the best, Sandy~Love, Desi

I believe you must be talking to me; my username is "suzandy".

I have been diagnosed with RSD in my back and my left hip, leg and foot. I was doing so much better until last week. I am on nortriptyline, lyrica, skelaxin and keppra. About 2 months ago, I participated in a clinical trial at Beth Israel Medical Center in NYC. I felt so much better and, while I was by no means back to normal, I was able to walk some and do many things I needed to do without any pain. I then went back for another one of the treatments that I had for this study. The week of the study I did a lot more than I have done in over a year. By the end of the week, I was left in more pain than I had experienced in many, many months - since before getting on my current drug regimen. I have been in excruciating pain for about 4 days now - much longer than my flare-ups usually last. I am now wondering if this is not a flare-up but whether I have triggered the RSD to get worse or if the treatment somehow made things worse. I am waiting to hear back from the doctor who is in charge of the study, though I am certain that she will say that my pain is not from the treatments. I can only hope that this is a prolonged flare-up and that I will feel better in a day or so. In the meantime, I am on vacation in Cape Cod and watching the days of my vacation go by while I lie inside in bed while others get to walk to the beach and go in the ocean.

I wish I had left things well enough alone and not gone back for that 2nd treatment.