Unfortunately, Heather...it feels good not to be alone on this one. Although, I never would wish any part of this on anyone. Yes, mine gets much worse than in that picture. I just couldn't figure this out and I have not wished to bring this up. Thanks to Richard. By the way, has he responded since his original post???? Heather, thanks for posting your pictures and causing me to post mine. It is in an odd sense, freeing.
Love Di

I get almost the same exact rash - had one last night as the latest northeaster was forming here off the coast of southern New England. Mine sometimes goes up into my face. And it gets itchy! Occasionally I get the little spots that itch, too. I try not to scratch them because they hurt.

My RSD started in my right shoulder, then spread to my neck and head and is now flairing up basically everywhere. The rashes were isolated to the shoulder area for the first month or so.

Weather is awful here today! Pouring rain and in the mid 30's. YUK!!

Sandy

Hi Sandy...

I am sorry that you are having the same flares going on. If you go up to my posted pics you can click on the face flare of mine and it's pretty visible. I usually have makeup on before I get a flare so it's not as noticeable.

To think that my RSD started in my rt. foot and now it's in my face...What a Craaaz-zay Disease!

I hope you feel better hun!

Love,
Heather

Sandy,
Hi!
My RSD started in my right shoulder too, from a rotator cuff tear and spread from a bankart repair surgery to repair it. Mine goes up my face too. Just like Heather you will notice that makeup covers some of it. When I went to the Bare Minerals counter, They said "you don't need the warmth (the blush) you have enough color". Ha! Imagine that! Just a little powder and the blush is au natural! LOL Scratching seems to be more pain that one would imagine and sometimes tears my fragile skin. Today I hit my ankle bone on an open drawer corner in the bathroom, and (OMG) I just about passed out from the pain. I have been suffering today from that small bump. It is just incredible! I am always amazed at how my body reacts to little a bump. I just looked at my ankle as I was writing the post and my ankle is really swollen. Great...just a little more madness. My best to you...Thanks for sharing. Di

hi Diana,

I tore my rotator cuff in Nov 2006, had my first repair in May of 2007 and the second in April of 2008. My PM doc thinks the RSD started the day I hurt myself. I went into a major RSD flair the summer after the 2nd surgery, the doc said the aggressive PT by the orthopedic therapists (i.e."RSI") instigated it. At the end of the summer the RSD began to spread everywhere, the worst has been the impact on the side of my neck and the back of my head.

I think because the RSD was isolated to my shoulder at first it didn't get diagnosed for a real long time. Its harder to see the swelling there vs. a hand or a foot.

Now I'm working on getting better. I take about 20 pills a day, go to a different PT who has experience with RSD and is WONDERFUL, and started getting SGB with a great medical team in Boston. (I was supposed to get my 2nd block today but its been rescheduled for tomorrow.) If the blocks don't work I hope to be able to try lidocaine or ketamine next.

How did you hurt yourself? What treatments have been successful for you? Did you ever get your strength back in your arm and shoulder? How about ROM? MY PM doc says that repetitve motions are a big "no-no" for me. I worry that I'll never be able to resume doing all the housework and yardwork that I did before I hurt myself.

Good to "chat" with you, please keep in touch!

Sandy

Sandy,
The injury was in 1989. My RSD also started from injury. I lifted an oven, about 180 lbs into a Uhaul trailer. It was lying down on a two wheeler. I bent over and picked up the two wheeler handle aand the rest is history. I weighted about 115lbs. Insane I know! Agressive PT then surgery caused the spread. I have had a frozen shoulder with major limitation on range of motion for years now. I also haven't done PT in years, it just wouldn't help anymore. HBOT is the only treatment that seems to help me at this point. I understand the pill thing, unfortunately we lose ourselves in the process. A necessary evil. But, what would we do with out them. Yesterday, I bumped my ankle and wow, have I suffered. It is still swollen today and the entire leg aches. I'm off to the doctors now, great chatting with you too! More later Di