Hello Flower.

I'm ever so sorry that I can't help with your question, but I still wanted to welcome you to NeuroTalk just the same.

Congratulations on the new little baby to be, and I wish you nothing but the best.

Hugs to you from me Flower. I certainly hope to get to know you a little better once you feel more comfortable here.

Hi Flower

I'm one of the members the others are talking about

I've had two pregnancies since my rsd started, and two pre-rsd. With my first post-rsd baby(my son Dayne)I had a remission of rsd symptoms, with my second (Hannah, my 4th child) I definitely didn't get a remission! I actually got injured while pregnant and had my rsd spread, so that was a really difficult time, but you just take it day by day and it's all worth it in the end!

It is important you have a obgyn dr that knows about rsd. If you can't get one, then that dr needs to work very closely with your pain management dr to ensure your rsd is taken into account. You have more risk of your rsd spreading due to a blood test (which you have to have during the pregnancy) than you have of miscarriage due to an ultrasound, but there are ways to limit these risks, such as having numbing cream put on the needle area 40 minutes before a blood test etc. So just research a lot of this so you can have control over your own body and the pregnancy tests etc, as if this guy doesn't know a lot about rsd and pregnancy, YOU need to know it!

some pain meds are ok while pregnant, if you go to www.safefetus.com you can do a drug search and it tells you while drugs are ok etc. But obviously work with your rsd dr, don't just rely on this website. But it is helpful as a guide. I didn't have a lot of pain meds with my first post-rsd pregnancy but with my second I did, due to the spread. but i didn't have any in the first trimester, kept them at the safe doses in the second trimester and cut them out after the 7th month as thats better for the baby.

I had the pain return within a couple of hours of giving birth, with both babies. Hannah (#4) was born via c/section as at that point my rsd affected leg couldn't be walked on or stood on so the whole "walking the halls while in labour" just couldn't happen! there were other reasons too that made this the best decision for me, too (including limiting pain levels). but when I had my son my rsd was only in my right arm and I could deliver naturally without a worry.

I bottlefed both babies from day one so that I could go back on the strong pain medications straight away. I took 4 hourly endones for the first couple of weeks, while i built up my regular meds to a dose that would help. bottlefeeding is also great for letting other people help, or if you have trouble holding bubs with rsd affected arms. but obviously if you are able to breastfeed and not go back straight away on meds that affect the baby, that is best.

There's a few of us around this board that have braved the unknown and had pregnancies since our rsd started, and we're all happy to help with any questions you have along the way.

Congratulations to you and your partner! I hope the pregnancy goes really smoothly for you!

Hi Kate,

I am not pregnant but I am interested in what you said about the numbing cream for blood tests. I go into major flare ups after blood work so I dont go often....can you tell me more

Debbie

I don't know what creams are available where you live Debbie, but here the most well known one is called Emla Cream. It's a topical (on the skin) anesthetic which is applied over the site, and then covered for about 20-30 minutes prior to puncturing the skin. This allows time for the area to deaden.

You could try phoning the people at the place where you have your blood drawn to see if they have this one or something similar. I'm sure they will have, as most use it before taking blood from small children (and big strong footballers )

What she said! lol

Yep, here is Australia it's called Emla cream. Pathology clinics don't always have it, so I get my blood tests done at the pathology place in the local hospital. Often if they don't have it available there then I go up to the children's ward and they'll put it on there for me. You still feel a little pinch but its so much better than the full pain you get without the area being numbed first.