Thank you both ever so much for replying - I really appreciate it.

Jenno - I am so very happy that your daughter had success from the HBO - I have heard that it can be really good. The beginning of this year, my mom took me to an HBO centre near where we live to see if they recommended HBO for RSD and they said that they had a few RSD patients on their books and that the HBO was helping them to varying degrees. If I remember correctly, I think 1 was almost pain-free, 2 were better than they were and another one wasn't getting any results. The Doctors at the HBO centre told us not to get our hopes set too high but in most cases, the RSD responds well to HBO after so long. We agreed to give the HBO a shot and I was all due to start the HBO and then I had an ingrown toenail removed which caused me to develop really bad muscle spasms and my PM Doctor decided that the HBO probably wouldn't help with the spasms and Dystonia and decided to try medications even though I was very reluctant. Thinking back, we should have tried the HBO then and there but my Doctor kept saying that the meds would help with the spasms better than the HBO but they didn't and then I was sent onto the intense Physical Therapy program.

Me and my mom are going to be looking into the HBO again as I am a bit reluctant at the moment to have my leg casted. To me, the HBO sounds like a much safer option.

Send your daughter my best wishes and thanks once again for replying! Alison

Debbie - Thank you so much for replying. I wish you the very best of luck with the HBO and am keeping my fingers crossed that you get some much needed relief. You will be in my thoughts and please keep us all updated when you can! Love, Alison

I don't know if this will help much, I've had no first hand experience with casting and all, but I've seen quite a few people over the last 5 and a half years I've had rsd get their leg casted to try and straighten the foot out. It didn't work. As soon as the cast came off it went right back to the position it had been in. A few have even had surgery and needless to say that didn't do a darn thing to fix it either. The only thing it had done was set them back a bit because they were unable to move the ankle for awhile.

I don't know if you've seen RSDHope Keith's blog about his hbot journey. I think you'd find it very interesting. Here's the link: http://painisafourletterword.blogspo...2_archive.html

I set it to the first 2 posts for you.

Hugs,

Karen

Hi, Ali.

I wish things had gone better. I understand your fear about the upcoming casting treatment but I had to respond and let you know that I've been through it. I had undergone 2 knee manipulations and the last one included casting for 10 days. Ali, this was the best thing that could have happened for me. I had physio afterwards in the pool and with time was finally able to use my leg properly -- it bends and straightens without and of the former problems. I wish you the best of luck.

Hello
I am sorry you werent so succesful this time at that program. i saw this message and wanted only to tell you this. i had dystonia of the foot, it was locked. rigid. would not move even a little. tried physical therapy. lots of exercises. manipulations. nothing working for me. then foot was casted as a last resort even though imobilising bad for rsd it was decided that the potential benefits would outweigh the risks and after i wore a cast just at night for while. and lots of physical therapy for the foot afterwards too. like the person above it was the best thing that ever happened to me. now foot is straight. i am so happy, this has made such a diference. i wanted to share with you this. i hope you do decide to go ahead with it and that it is a sucess like it was for me.

Thank you all so much for replying to my post - I really appreciate it. I'm sorry that I haven't been around much lately, I have just had so much going on and haven't been feeling too good but I hope to post more soon!!

Miss Irie - Thank you for replying - I can't tell you how happy I am that the casting and Physio helped you - you have brung me some hope that the Dystonia in my foot can get better. I am hoping to try and see my PM Doctor on Thursday to see what his opinion on the cast is. Thank you for replying and sharing your experience with me - I truly appreciate it and thank you for giving me hope. Love, Alison

MaryC - Thank you for replying and sharing your experience with the casting with me - I really apreciate it. I am so happy that the cast helped you so much - it really does bring me hope so thank you! Take care and Welcome to Neurotalk, Alison