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.