[ali12]

Hi there,
Please let me inrodruce myself, my name is Alison, I am 12 years old and I have RSD in my left leg. I also had RSD in my right hand but its got better. I developed RSD in my leg after an ankle sprain. I had six weeks of Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy but it didn't help me infact it made things worse, I started developing muscle spasms, swelling and hypersenstivity. My foot started rotating out to the side. The physiotherapist told me and my mom that I was making the injury up. My mom went mad and took me to another hospital, I was admitted straight away and they did blood tests which said that I was at risk of developing Arthritis. The doctor told me that he suspected RSD but to be sure he had to transfer me to another hospital. The next day I was transfered and diagnosed with RSD type one. The next day my PM doctor performed a sympathetic nerve block (Guanethidine block) which did not work, instead it caused me to have severe balance problems. If I was you I would research about the block you are having and ask you doctor what the side effects are.

Two months later I was prescribed Amityriptyline to help me sleep. I developed a nasty side effect of Blurred Vision and this resulted in a knock to my right arm, I was diagnosed with RSD 2 weeks later.

It would appear to me that your doctor is looking to see if you have RSD by doing a nerve block. This does not help with the diagnosis because in some people the block works and in others it does not. Diagnosis is based on the symptoms you are experiencing.
The blocks can help your pain for a few days/weeks or months and in some cases even years! And some blocks don't help many people with RSD

The symptoms of RSD are:
Severe pain
Hypersenstivity
Muscle spasms
Colour changes
Temperature changes
Nail changes
Swelling
Migraines/headaches
Memory loss (in some cases)
Depression
Bone changes (in severe cases)
and many more, if you have three or more of those symptoms then the chances are that you have RSD (well thats what my PM doctor said) Personally I don't like my doctor.

Do you see a Psychologsist? Psychologist can help you cope with the pain and depression that you have.
Have you seen a Neurologist? They help with the diagnosis, although your PM doctor can do diagnose you.
Do you see a Physiotherapist? They help with your movement etc. In some cases Physiotherapy can lead you to a recovery.

If you think you have RSD do NOT put ice on your affected limb(s) this can cause more pain and it can cause you skin to crack, change colour etc.

I also suffer from something else called Dystonia which I developed as a result of RSD. Dystonia is a movement disorder than many people with RSD have. Dystonia causes muscle spasms, movement problems, locked limbs that you can't move, co-ordination problems and balance problems.

These websites might help you:
http://www.rsd-crps.co.uk/crps.htm
http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/index.php
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/rds1.shtml
http://www.arc.org.uk/arthinfo/patpubs/6035/6035.asp

If you need any help I AM here
Sorry that this is long
Alison
P.S: Welcome to neurotalk, you will find many other people that are willing to help you and they understand what you are going through
Take care