[Coffeebean]

Hi all, I have been reading this board since I was diagnosed with RSD in May, 2007. I have had two ulnar nerve surgeries which resulted in RSD in my entire left limb. I have had most of the symptoms of pain, burning, bluish-red blotching, lots of swelling and now dystonia, which is really leaving my hand weak.

Anyway, I have a symptom that comes and goes depending on my activity and environment. When I get nervous or work hard on an exercise bicycle, my left hand will sweat like crazy. This happened again last night while I was watching a movie with my family. It was an adventure (nothing upsetting) but there was a build up in a scene and my left hand starting sweating so much I had to get a towel to clean up the moisture. It continued for a few minutes so I took a .5mg of Ativan to calm things down. That pill coupled with a changed environment (movie ended) stopped the sweating completely. The same thing happens with exercise, if I work hard on my bike, my left hand sweats like crazy yet I get nothing from the right.

I know I never had this problem before the RSD. So I wonder if this means I still have the RSD in my arm? I get so confused. I saw my hand surgeon last week and he said the RSD has resolved and what I now have is a damaged ulnar nerve. Two days later I see my neurologist and she said the sweating and hand stiffness is from the RSD and that it never totally resolves.

I am really confused. Does RSD flare and calm down or if the pain level calms down (sometimes) does that mean I don't have RSD?

Also, if I am just calmly sitting watching a movie and this terrible sweating starts up without me moving my arm (I have it propped on a pillow to help reduce the swelling) then does that mean the RSD is originating in my spine or brain and not in the peripheral nerves?

Any ideas?