[Iffynah]

Hello,
I'm new here. I was recently diagnosed with RSD in my right wrist. It kinda sucks too since I'm right handed. I was wondering if anyone knows how long it actually takes for RSD to show up? I was injured at work on March 2nd, and like a week after I got hurt I started having all the problems that I have now. I was also wondering for those with RSD do you get shooting pains? Because I get some shooting pains clear up to my shoulder. The pain seems to bounce around my wrist/hand. There are days that are really good days where there isn't to much pain, there are days with mild to moderate pain, then I have those really horrible days where I can't seem to do anything with my arm. I have been experiencing a lot of muscle fatigue lately, where it hurts and takes a lot of strength and energy just to even move my fingers. Is this a part of RSD, and if it is what does that mean? That i'm over working it? Because a lot of times I barely do anything with my hand/wrist and I have that happen. The muscle fatigue happens just below my wrist and extends back towards the elbow. I also have the problem of being able to lay my arm down on anything. Some days it just hurts so bad that I can't even put my elbow down on anything without sharp shooting pains up to my wrist and hand. I am still working because the doctor strongly believes that I will get over this even though I told him that when I'm at work it gets worse. Believe me I know how it sounds because I got hurt at work, but I'm telling the truth. My hand and wrist swells up, I start to feel every step I take in my wrist, my hand/wrist get shiny, my knuckles get all red, depending where I'm at at work or what I'm doing depends on what color it turns. Like I have to stock the cooler and pull stuff out of the freezer, so when I'm in there my hand and wrist turns all purple. When I'm out making coffee stocking the store and cleaning my hand/wrist turns a blotchy red. It kinda looks more like a rash, that is the best way I can describe it. But when it does the red my whole wrist/hand doesn't turn it is only a part of it. I have people at work telling me that I need to see if I can get on disablity. I really don't want to do that. I want to work, I get so bored sitting at home. Anyway, this is really starting to hurt.

Thanks

P.S. I have a 5 yr old and a 6 month old. It gets really hard to try and take care of them. Luckily my 5 yr old is pretty self sufficient, and my hubby can only do so much to help me.

[dreambeliever128]

I was wondering if you have had any blocks yet just to see if it can be calmed down. If it's caught soon enough blocks can help but I have also seen people do good with blocks years after it's started.

Most people find it hard to work with RSD. IF it can be put into remission soon enough you might be able to keep working. It depends on how it effects you in other ways.

I started out with mine in my right thoracic area down to my hand and have a tough few years until we got it into remission. I have a persistent Dr. that seems to help is to have the right Dr. to help you.

My hand still gets blotchy and swells and sweats when I take walks and let them swing. I can't stand the heat any more then the cold most of the time.

They do say not to use ice, it can make it worse so being in that freezer is not going to help at all.

I am on disability as are a lot of others on here so it does seem to hit people pretty hard, hopefully you can continue to keep working, it's not impossible as I said. It is an uphill battle. RSD doesn't go away.

There will be others come on and help you, so stick around.

Feel better soon.
Ada

[GalenaFaolan]

Hello,
I'm new here. I was recently diagnosed with RSD in my right wrist. It kinda sucks too since I'm right handed. I was wondering if anyone knows how long it actually takes for RSD to show up? I was injured at work on March 2nd, and like a week after I got hurt I started having all the problems that I have now. I was also wondering for those with RSD do you get shooting pains? Because I get some shooting pains clear up to my shoulder. The pain seems to bounce around my wrist/hand. There are days that are really good days where there isn't to much pain, there are days with mild to moderate pain, then I have those really horrible days where I can't seem to do anything with my arm.

There is no set time that RSD shows up after suffering an injury or from surgery. It started for me 2 weeks after I broke my knee, a friend of mine started her rsd symptoms the day after she was hurt at work.

RSD pain can be described as burning, sharp,shooting,stabbing. My pain is all of the above. LOLOL It moves all over my body, I have it full body, or if I'm having pain in say just my leg, I can feel the "start" of the pain at the bottom of my thigh and it'll shoot up into my hip. It's definitely aggravating! We all have good days and bad days for sure. Some days we can barely function other days we're able to get up and do something. All of it is very normal for rsd.

I have been experiencing a lot of muscle fatigue lately, where it hurts and takes a lot of strength and energy just to even move my fingers. Is this a part of RSD, and if it is what does that mean? That i'm over working it? Because a lot of times I barely do anything with my hand/wrist and I have that happen. The muscle fatigue happens just below my wrist and extends back towards the elbow. I also have the problem of being able to lay my arm down on anything. Some days it just hurts so bad that I can't even put my elbow down on anything without sharp shooting pains up to my wrist and hand. I am still working because the doctor strongly believes that I will get over this even though I told him that when I'm at work it gets worse. Believe me I know how it sounds because I got hurt at work, but I'm telling the truth. My hand and wrist swells up, I start to feel every step I take in my wrist, my hand/wrist get shiny, my knuckles get all red, depending where I'm at at work or what I'm doing depends on what color it turns. Like I have to stock the cooler and pull stuff out of the freezer, so when I'm in there my hand and wrist turns all purple. When I'm out making coffee stocking the store and cleaning my hand/wrist turns a blotchy red. It kinda looks more like a rash, that is the best way I can describe it. But when it does the red my whole wrist/hand doesn't turn it is only a part of it. I have people at work telling me that I need to see if I can get on disablity. I really don't want to do that. I want to work, I get so bored sitting at home. Anyway, this is really starting to hurt.

Thanks

P.S. I have a 5 yr old and a 6 month old. It gets really hard to try and take care of them. Luckily my 5 yr old is pretty self sufficient, and my hubby can only do so much to help me.

Feeling muscle fatigue, all of what you described, the discoloration, shiny skin, swelling, etc is all a part of the rsd. Feeling it doesn't mean you're overusing it at all, just another part of it. The one thing you must do is keep using your hand. There's a saying for rsd, "If you don't use it, you WILL lose it". It's ok to rest your limb, you do want to take care not to overdo it because this makes the fatigue feeling and pain worse.

I agree with Ada that you should be getting stellate ganglion blocks ASAP. You have only had it for 2 months and this is the time to get the blocks and some physical therapy (if needed), to possible get it into remission. The earlier it's treated the better chance you have.

You didn't say what kind of doc you have but if you're not seeing a pain management doctor then you want to get into one as soon as possible to get blocks done.

If you have any more questions, ask away!

Hugs,

Karen

[Iffynah]

I have been seeing a Bone specialist. I have been trying to find lots of info on RSD and I find most of it but some was confusing me cuz they didn't say anything about having problems when resting the affected area. But some of the info I find I print up or try to remember what was said and tell the doctor but he doesn't want to listen to me. He did put me in occupational therapy for 2 weeks but said that I shouldn't go anymore and just do what they showed me at home. But the occupational therapist wanted me to go longer. With this happening at work its hard to get workmans comp to cooperate sometimes. I haven't had any blocks but I was wondering if they are a type of anti inflammitory? Because if they are I cannot do them. I am allergic to them and have problems with prescription steriods they give to people who are allergic to the anti inflammitories. I do use my arm/hand as much as I can. But the fatigue seems to hit whether I use it a lot or just a little. It also looks like my hand is bruising right around the base of my thumb down to the wrist and up to the base knuckle of my hand on my pointer finger. Also is RSD a type of nerve damage or is that just depending on what type of RSD a person has?
Thank You

[GalenaFaolan]

Oh my, you're on work comp. I'm very sorry......I got hurt at work too and the lack of proper care, well, I know it didn't help and I understand how they work. I live in Florida and you can get a lawyer if they deny you one little thing or don't pay you. I know every state has it's own rules about wc. Something you might want to look into and keep in mind. Most wc cases need a lawyer because once you are dx with rsd, that's when they start messing with your care. Not always, but 95% of the time they do.

Blocks are not anti inflammatories. They use numbing meds and inject them into the cluster of nerves either in the lower back for legs or in your neck for your arms. It helps, for some, stops the pain for hours or days and brings the color and skin temp back to normal as well. You usually get a series of them and each one usually helps more than the last one. It's very important to get them as early as possible. A pain doc/anesthesiologist is the doc that does blocks and would be able to tell you exactly which drugs he uses in them and wouldn't use any steroids in them and put you at risk. Look up stellate ganglion blocks and what they use in some. I know that different docs use different combos of stuff in them depending on the patient.

Rsd is a conditon that affects the nerve system, some people would say the sympathetic nervous system, but I've found it affects,or can affect, everything in the body so it's classified as a neurological conditon overall. It has nothing to do with nerve damage specifically. There are 2 types of RSD, with and without nerve injury. RSD type 1 and 2. Type 1 is the kind that comes from an injury such as I had, a broken kneecap. Type 2 is the one that has nerve damage, like someone who had surgery for carpal tunnel or some other injury that involves damage to a nerve or nerves.

If you have any wc questions let me know and I'll look it up for you. I'm good at researching stuff. :-) Your doc should have already referred you to a pain doc, maybe you could ask him about it next time you see him.

Hugs,

Karen