So SO sorry for your problem GJm. I don't actually HAVE that problem BUT once that DID happen to me.

I got a massage and the massuese Streched my hands sideways, both of them. I TOLD him that hurt but he said it was good to stretch all the tendons and ligaments in your hands so I allowed him to continue, STUPIDLY!! The next morning BOTH my hands were all swollen JUST like yours and I couldn't even move my fingers. it took a few days for the swelling to go down and I was totally useless in the meantime. I did soak them in cool water frequently because Obviously he did some minute damage in there and they HURT. SO if someone tells you HURTING you is good for you, tell them to STOP!!!! and get away from them. I should have sued him but he was a student and the massage was free and there was no lasting damage.

Hi

We treat my daughter's RSD in our home with a mild hyperbaric chamber. We have a wonderful neighbor who suffers from cervical dystonia, unable to straighten her head to a forward position. With the approval of her doctor, she tried our chamber with amazing results. Upon completing three treatments she was in tears when she came out and realized that she could straighten her head. She also suffered for 18 years with pain at the sight of her mastectomy. This pain also responded and was gone after the initial 3 treatments.

Her dystonia was not associated with RSD, but I wanted to share this for what it might be worth. If there is anyway that you could give hyperbarics a try, I would very much encourage you to do so.

Best wishes,

Jeanne

Yep, had the very same thing happen to my left hand about 11 months ago. I got to an occupational therapist right away and started soaking in Epsom Salts (103 - 105 degrees) four times a day for 15 minutes. Then in between the soaks, I kept my hand really warm by wrapping it in microwaved soft rice bean bags. The constant warmth, OT, and espom salts got my hand moving in about three days and it took another month of keeping it up to get about 70% movement back. Now, a year later I would say I have close to 90% back.

Good luck.

Geeze. What IS this?? I never heard of it and so many people have it??

You can get one at Wal-Mart for around $20. Comes with scented wax, but you can use unscented in it as well (look in canning supplies - it's the same stuff you use on the top of jelly jars). Let the wax melt on the lowest setting. Dip your hand in and out about 5-6 times, letting the wax cool in between. Then stick your hand in a plastic bag and wrap with a towel or the "oven mitt" that comes with the bath. Basically, this will really warm up your hand. After around 10 minutes, your hand will cool down a little, and just peel off the wax.

MUCH cheaper, less than $5.:


I used to buy this when I surfed. At a hardware store. The medical wax bath is really EXPENSIVE, almost $200. I bet you COULD just use a slow cooker set on LOW and it'd do the exact same thing.

Hi GJMom,

I forgot to say that when my hand was locked in a fist, the hospital took me down to the Operating Room and put a splint on my arm whilst I was asleep to try and keep it open. The splint didn't work really, and when the nurses removed it, my fingers curled back into a fist and they couldn't get the splint back on! I really hope that the splint your husband has made helps you.

I was also on muscle relaxants, these include, Baclofen, Diazepam, Kenadrin and Propranolol.

Please know that you are in my thoughts and if I can help you in any way please just let me know

Best wishes
Alison

Is this caused by overuse of the wrist and hand?? Seems the muscles in the arm and wrist go into contraction. OR is it a problem originating in the neck?? Cervical spine?? I know sometimes my arm goes numb and hand IF I sleep wrong and don't support my neck but usually some rotations, a hot shower and some stretching improve the whole situation. Our bodies tend to lock up if we don't MOVE.

Hi Wiix,
A quick explanation of RSD is that some systems of the body go into a hyper reactive state with severe pain. Blood flow, nerves, muscles are all affected to a high degree.
Use can make sx worse, but usually are not able to be relieved with what helps most of us feel better.

Do to the nervous system being hyper reactive some cannot tolerate hot water , touch or even gentle breezes.

I understand that. Paraesthesia, I had that once for about a year when I hurt my neck. My whole arm went DEAD and ached and felt SO tired all the time. Just making a fist was almost impossible. It took months of physical therapy to improve it but on the whole I think TIME was just what it needed to heal. I remember just the AC blower in the car on my arm HURT like a SOB. And to TRY to get anyone around me to understand the PAIN was impossible. I was still expected to do ALL my household stuff alone with NO help at all. People can be SO insensitive. I'll NEVER forget that year and that was probably over 30 years ago.