[kittygato]

I was diagnosed yesterday with RSD by my neurologist. It seems to have been caused my damage that i sustained to my left arm from a car accident back in November.
I am on Gabapentin and Naprosyn, neither of which seems to be having any effect on the pain. I am scheduled for an MRI to pinpoint the damage to my neck and/or spine.

What can I expect from this?
Will it disappear with time?
What can I do for the pain?

The constant swelling and pain is leaving me mentally and emotionally drained. Is that normal?

Sorry about all the questions, but I feel completely lost right now and dont seem to be getting anywhere with my doctors....

Thank you!

[ali12]

Hi.

Please let me introduce myself:
My name is Alison, I am 12 years old and I suffer from RSD in my left leg and right arm.

I am so sorry about what you are going through ((hugs))
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition. The key symptom of CRPS is continuous, intense pain out of proportion to the severity of the injury, which gets worse rather than better over time. CRPS most often affects one of the arms, legs, hands, or feet. Often the pain spreads to include the entire arm or leg. Typical features include dramatic changes in the color and temperature of the skin over the affected limb or body part, accompanied by intense burning pain, skin sensitivity, sweating, and swelling. Doctors aren’t sure what causes CRPS. In some cases the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in sustaining the pain. Another theory is that CRPS is caused by a triggering of the immune response, which leads to the characteristic inflammatory symptoms of redness, warmth, and swelling in the affected area.

Most MRI scans wont show the RSD but may show changes to the bones and muscles etc.

I hope these links help you:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/rds1.shtml
http://www.neurologychannel.com/rsd/treatment.shtml
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/r..._dystrophy.htm

No one knows if the RSD will go away, hopefully it will. Most people with RSD go into remission.

If you need anything else just ask.

[ali12]

Forgot to say "Welcome to Neurotalk"
THANKS

[dreambeliever128]

Welcome to the family.

I am glad you got it diagnosed this quick. You might want to ask for blocks. Blocks can sometimes get it into remission.

RSD doesn't disappear but it can go into remission with the right kind of care but it takes time. It is sure no easy feat.

The pain will drain you emotionally and physically due to it being so bad. It's beyond belief is how I see the pain from RSD.

I am glad you found us and you will get a lot of support and help here.
Ada

[Imahotep]

Good luck.

Early dianosis is critical so you have this working for you.

Reduce stress as much as possible and find the drugs that help while you're getting the treatments.

Don't give up hope no matter how little you think you have.

[kittygato]

Originally Posted by Imahotep

Good luck.

Reduce stress as much as possible

I read this and had to laugh. I am the most high strung stressed out person that I know.

[Debby]

He has you on Naproxen for the pain huh??? You need to find yourself a GOOD pain doctor who has treated RSD patients before. You need better pain control than you are getting. Gabepentin is good to be on as long as you can tolerate the side effects, if not a good pain doctor can help you find another drug hopefully that can be helpful. That would be my advice.

And yes the pain can wear one down & drain you emotionally, mentally & physically. Good luck.

DebbyV

[Goodn'Plenty]

November
Well you have an excellent chance for a GREAT OUTCOME
Thinking positive will have a beneficial effect on what will happen to you .
You are in that early window of opportunity where you can be cured!!!!! so get yourself to a GREAT Pain management doctor and get some Stellate Ganglion Blocks(plural) or other blocks depending where your RSD site is and hopefully we will never have to hear from you again
I mean that in the nicest way.
You have a chance to beat this thing and you have to go after it with all that you have - physio blocks whatever it takes - work your butt off from every angle to get better !!!OK????????????????????
Then you can go back to that thing called your past life
I so want that for you so put that goal in your head and quickly!!!!!

Peace
GnP

[Imahotep]

Originally Posted by kittygato

I read this and had to laugh. I am the most high strung stressed out person that I know.

It's always worthless advice. It's like telling the guy in the fire to try to keep cool. Sometimes there are things you can do and a psychiatrist can always medicate. Sometimes doctors will do this but usually you need to be in the care of psychiatrist first. There are other ways we can try to avoid stress but it's still worthless advice.

Having a good support system can help deflect a lot of stress.

[loretta]

Hi Stephanie, a very warm welcome ( I live in Arizona)
I remember that day the Dr. told me I had RSD. I didn't have a clue.
I went over to othe hospital to have nuclear med tests. It shoes up in bone loss. My left hand was swollen red and couldn't move my fingers or touch it.
I found out about 5 years have I had shoulder surgery and had nerve damage the following day by swollen arm and frozen shoulder. I didn't have any treatment for RSD for 5 years even after many many Drs. That's why you are so fortunate to find out so early- you have a great chance of it going in remission. Blocks are done by an experienced anethesiologist. IF you choose to have this done ask the Dr. how many he has done. You may even have to a larger town to get a good hospital with Drs. that know about RSD and have experience. The Block I understand work best in the first 6 months. After many Drs. I have a wonderful one- A pshchiatrist with a degress in neurology and is also is a pharmacologist. Nice combo yay Different drugs work well with different people. I changed from Neurotin to Lyrica and it works better for me. I take vicodin for pain, two different blood pressure pills because rsd affects blood pressure. two different anti depressants because depression often come along. They also are effective in nerve pain. I take antivan and anti-anxiety drug because I too have a lot of stresses. When you can calm down, the sympathetic nerve calms down.
Thats why many have a time for just themselves for meditating, listening to relaxing music, praying, swimming whatever you can do that is relaxing.
I also take a sleeping pill as I need it I have full body RSD. So you really are in a good place. I hope you didn't sign off on the insurance issues surrounding the car accident, because if you don't go into remission it can (not always) be a long road Drs. Therapy, Medication, Not being able to go back to work. Many need to go on Social Security Disability. They now recognize RSD as a disorder that qualifies them for it. I haven't applied even though I would get it. I have very good insurance and like to pick my Drs. and hospitals that I want.
There are so many wonderful people on this site. We will always be here to answer questions, just listen, but read, read, read, then you will be able to make the best decisions. The principle in getting this stopped is to cause the sypathetic nerve to quit sending pain signals to your brain. For some reason after an injury or surgery, normal pain signals do their job, but just never quit. Because they run all over your body, it jumps around to different spots.
Like from your left arm to your right arm. or from your left arm to your left leg and foot. from your upper body to your lower body. Also internal organs like your heart, I don't want to scare you, but if the accident file is still open, keep it that way. My daughter is a court reporter and has done jobs on RSD
It can be a long road, or even the short road is expensive. I hope I haven't dumped too much on you, I care, and wished I new 12 years ago what I do now. Please let us know how you are doing and what kind of help you are getting. It is definetly something you do this along.It's difficult for others, evin close friends to understand what you are going thru and the degress of pain that is involved. For me it was like a death, losing my past athletic self to what I can do not. It helps to look gratefully at wha wet have and can do.

Hi to all above this letter. Yes, my daughter just called , she and hubby moved to Chicago in Sept. He's on a 3 day flight, he's a com. pilot. She's bring your doggie with her. Our cat get's the upstairs and she get's the downstairs. He wants to be friends but she doesn't. Our cat is bigger than the dog. She is a min pin. Soft hugs, loretta jewell