I thought it might be helpful for people to know that using micro fiber towels or having a micro fiber glove, as I have RSD of the fingers on my left hand is helpful. I don't know what else there is to help with this condition of the fingers...does anyone know of anything that could help me.

Celliant Socks
 

I bought Celliant socks for my daughter who has RSD and she lives in them. They have really helped her. They are specially designed to alleviate foot and leg pain for diabetics. You can also get boxers, gloves etc.**

Hi. I have RSD in my legs. Anything that rubs my legs hurts. So high count sheets, or flannel. Heat is your friend. Sitting in the sun will do wonders for you. (They found that people in the North, who don't get much sunlight,actually are more prone to RSD, go figure) Body pillow with feathers in a flannel cover....LOVE.

Life savers for me...
 

Hi everyone! Love this post! I have CRPS in my foot and it is spreading to the other foot and up my legs (ankle sprain began it all). I find that I can wear the Smart Wool socks that only cover the bottom of my foot and a little on the side (I think they are called "no show"). They keep my icy foot warm and don't over rub my foot. Also, I LOVE my Ugg boots. They are amazing for desensitization. I wear them around with no socks and they softly rub on my feet. I also have found that softer denim works and I fashionably roll up the bottoms. It's nice that that look is in right now! ;)

Joyfully living in hope, Evie :)

New to RSD
 

I have severe RSD/CRPS in my right wrist/arm and it seems to be spreading. My doctor is trying all different kinds of meds for me but nothing seems to help the pain. I am losing mobility in the fingers on my right hand and I am seeing some contracture. I am at my wits end with this. Is there anything out there that will help me alleviate some of my pain.

Hi everyone, I have trouble wearing sleeves because of the rsd in my right arm. My mom went crazy this winter and bought me shirts of all types to find something i could wear. What she did find that worked are sleeves made for runners to wear when it is cold outside. If i wear them i can put a sweater or other shirt or coat on top of them. I may not be able to wear it all day but at least an hour ot two. Good luck everybody.

Socks made for people w/diabetes: department stores and mobility stores are great places to find these. They have a cushioned sole, loose leg that manages to stay up. (I also cut the top trim off cuter socks and that does the trick). And I always carry 2-4 extra pairs of socks, changing them whenever my foot pain increases. The fresh dryness helps.

Converse shoes: the regular canvas ones (low or high tops). These don't arch in the ball, have enough rubber cushion to manage city living, and the lace-up canvas upper means they're adjustable, made with sweat-free fabric. The high tops are actually most comfy because they result in no pressure applied around ankle (they don't need to be secured tightly). Warning: I've bought the knock-offs and they don't have the cushion that real Chucks do. But, most stores that specialize in board shoes have great sale racks: I got my favourite pair for 38 bucks two years ago and they are still in great shape. Once in awhile they also release faux fur lined editions: I'm waiting impatiently for those to return.

I wear skirts and tights almost every day and the only 'dress shoes' I own are uber-cheap mary janes from China, much like the Chinese shoes of my childhood, but with a thicker rubber base/heel: actually wonderful for CRPS feet and so I am using them sparingly until I find a local supplier. But most of the time I wear my Converse w/skirts, or cozy boots in winter. The tights mean absolutely zero friction from pants brushing and my skirts are pretty short. This uniform has helped me tremendously, and it's cute too so I feel a little more 'in the world'.

My spinal cord stimulator. For all the horror stories there are success stories too. Otherwise they wouldn't spend a fortune dropping them into people. If you get the opportunity, try it. I'd give up everything in my life, and everyone for that matter, before I'd surrender my SCS.

My cat. Having a silky soft animal that doesn't require walking, doesn't jump up on your legs, doesn't need to be picked up, is soothing beyond description. Get yourself to your local shelter and adopt a big boy (adult males are most easygoing/least demanding)

comfort and questions
 

i am new to crps but i have a chronic back condition so some helpful things i have found are jersey cotton bottom sheet, no top. also pillowcase of jersey cotton. soft flannel ones are nice too. everything washed with downey softner. my blanket is down filled from llbean best ever. i also have carpel tunnel in both hands. so i have special exos brand remodel braces that include my thumbs. my crps is in right arm, hand, shoulder so my qustion is wear can buy soft comfy button up shirts? my husband helps put tshirts on me but the pain is unbearable at times. i wear danskin pull on cotton pants from walmart. i hate wearing anything tight, why did they invent bras???? lol i found some that button in front which is much easier tho!

I have RSD in both legs & feet. I love the soft fuzzy socks! They are the only ones I can wear on my feet! As far as shoes go, fashion is out the door. I can only wear Crocks, one size to big. They don't press on my feet at all and I can slip them off & on. Soft downy pillows are a must!!! When I shop for pants of any kind I usually go with the danskin as well! The seams aren't to big and the fabric is very soft! They come in a variety of colors and thickness.

Hope this helps!!!:grouphug:

ode to columbia lined yoga pants and crocs
 

I am in total agreement on the crocs. I have been living in tights, when I can :eek: bear them and most of all the pants from columbia with soft fleece lining. Anything has to breathe well or it's out the door. Most of my closet is unused now and filling up with dresses. I haven't been able to wear pants for six months.

New to the forum, new to CRPS but hoping to help as much as I gain by participating here.

Gentle Hugs to all!
:hug:

I have found that Target carries these ultra soft and light tights that are sold rolled up for 5 dollars. Since I have to dress up for work I find those are helpful and I wear shoes that don't have tops so my sensitive spot on my RSD foot isn't being agitated

Comfort
 

I have RSD bilaterally on both hands, wrists and arms. I also have it on my incision sites of my SCS, neck, mid back, & lower back. Now it's spreading onto my right shoulder as well. I have found that jersey sheets by northern nights are the best. I have to have very soft fabrics in order to sleep or even to wear. I found a pillow that is the best ever too and its by Soft tex.

Try
 

Have you tried parafan wax? It helps relaxe you due to the heat. I put my hands in it and leave it until it cools. I also do aqua therapy. The water is set at 98 degrees and it helps alot. I also get massage therapy and that helps too. JV

Sheets
 

Sheets- Northern night jersey sheets.
Pillow- Soft Tex

Anyone trying paraffin be very careful and go slowly! Even in the first 6 or so months post RSD onset, my temperature regulation was too dysfunctional to tolerate this in PT. It felt like a severe burn and caused an increase in color changes for days afterward.

My docs are always surprised at how good my range of motion is now, but I had years in the beginning that I stopped using my hand, guarded it, and lost mobility and it was beginning to waste away. First, you need to figure out a level of pain you can cope with. Then you need to figure out meds and whatever other strategies that will lower your pain below that level. Finally, you need to use your hand for short bursts of time and then stopping when you reach your decided pain thresh hold. As my pain edges toward 6-7/10, I stop and rest until I'm back to a 3-4/10, and then I repeat, etc.

Moving it in warm water is the least painful way for me. If you can't get to warm warm PT, try doing hand exercises in a bath with Epsom Salts! Wash a few dishes if you're able. Paint your finger nails. (It doesn't matter if you take it all right back off, the point is movement.) I still drop things constantly and have major dysfunction, but I do small things, for short periods of time, and it does help!

I have a question.
 

@Ali12 ,

When you say that your doctor made you a RSD Survival Pack, what all did he include?

I'm wondering because I need help. It's been hard to deal with and because of my age; 14- no one knows what would work best. I have medicine, but not like ideas to help make the pain easier to deal with.

Thanks a ton and I appreciate it. (:

pillows
 

I tell every one I can do everything I use to do just slower and with coushins!
the right pillows on a trip are VERY important. The vibrations of the road can be an issue for me

keep trying new things
 

Keep trying different things. Something will work today that will not work tomorrow and so on. Accupuncture worked 3 times for temperary relief. Then the fourth it sent me and the pain through the roof. The hot wax and epson soaks help. Nothing will make it go away but you can eventually figure out what it takes to live with it. Fighting it and grabbing your boot straps and dealing with it like a fighter is a big NONO.. Relaxing and accepting that you have an health issue allows you to figure out the ways you need to deal with your RSD

Rsd
 

[QUOTE=Reddawn600;702662]Good suggestions. I also use a buckwheat pillow. You can fluff it to fit around your neck and in the summer it stays cool and they last forever. I love mine. Good to hear about some of the suggestions that work for some. The tens machine has been one that my chiropractor and I have talked about, may be worth a try. I too find at night epecially my foot just burns with that deep ache pain and on humid days and when I've done too much.. I have just been recently diagnosed with RSD but found last winter, my foot either froze or burning hot, both with that deep ache. Thanks again for some suggestions. have a great day.

Things that might help
 

Hi, my name is Sherry and I have RSD for 4 years now. I have had 6 surgerys in all including a spinal stimulator placed. I have found that soft things are the best!! My doc has me on Methadone, Roxicodone, and topamax. These drugs do a little to touch the pain, I'm usually at a 7 on the pain scale. You just have to keep changeing things up, because staying on one thing to long will only get your body used to it and then it no longer works. Warm baths are my friend when the pain starts getting really bad. I have been trying to use my arm more often, remember the saying You don't use it, you will lose it!! Even if the pain if there you have to keep going, you do not want the muscles to waist away. I hope some of this has helped you.

Sherry,

Welcome to the forum. I agree that you have to continue to try different medications. Although I have done well on my patchs (10 months) although recently I am having to take more and more breakthrough but I blame the airconditioner and stress.

Feel free to chime in on anything and ask questions. We are all in the same boat.

Sharing Tips on Finding Ways or Items To Comfort
 

These are all excellent tips and well worth sharing. I appreciate all the wonderful ideas. I have suffered with full body CRPS for 2 years and it is sometimes a lonely road with few to understand the way the disease affects a person.

Hello you Dear Mom, I can tell that you want to help someone so very much to find comfort. God bless you Mothers, you are all so special.
I am new here, and have 21 years under my belt living with RSD.
You want to be prepared...RSD is a make it up as you go along thing most of the time. We feel different everyday, so better some worse. Weather does play a big role and what you ate the day before. How much activity you had or lack of it the day before..it follows no rules.
Epsom salts not only feels good it is good for you full of Magneisium. On real bad days I soak my feet in wild mint leaves that I find in the woods.

I am to tired tonight to go any more. Please ask anything you want to or need to. I have big ears and shoulders.
God bless you MOM. RSD with LUV, Andrea:grouphug:

Wow lots of interesting tips! Think I need to go thru and read in the morning when I'm more alert and have my handy dandy note book with me to write them down!.

Thought I'd share my little trick I use for for my arm. I have Ulnar Nerve damage, RSD, CPRS, Nueropathy, etc. in my right arm. My arm despises the cold of any sort and lets me know it immediately, when the slightest cool breeze or slight drop in tempature. Basically my arm starts to spasm which then sets of "zingers" which then sets of the pins and needles to spread from my pinkie and ring finger to my whole arm.

So in order to avoid this, I went on a search after watching a football game and saw some players with this thing on their arm(s) and also, remember seeing basketball players wear them too. But the sleeves those athletes wear are made of neoprene, which can be very tight, which for me is not a good thing cause even sweaters and sweatshirts irritate my arm and also those sleeves are very expensive. But I stumbled upon this cool thing called a "tattoo Sleeve" on ebay. Its basically a cotton sleeve, almost like its cut off from a long sleeve shirt except the top that goes up on the bicep has an elastic that can be stretched out ( I had my husband wear the sleeves for me to stretch them out since I have little arms) and the part that goes by your wrist is neatly cuffed. I believe they come in different sizes but not positive, its been years since I ordered them. I cut a whole at the seam for my thumb to go thru so the sleeve covers my hand and part of my fingers. I bought 2 sets of 2 for $7 or $8 ea set which included shipping. That was 5yrs ago. :) They were white and I kept one white and dyed the others different colors to go with my wardrobe. I also, find it helps me with my anxiety when I do venture out in public especially on warm days when everyone is wearing t-shirts and tank tops, my sleeve stands out! It makes me feel like my arm is wrapped in a secure blankie but unfortunately it doesn't stop unruly kids from running into you or ramming a stroller or a shopping carriage into my arm either. :mad:

I am just now needing new ones as these are worn almost everyday and they are machine washable and machine dry-able too! I am currently collecting remanents from material I buy for other sewing projects to try and make my own. not sure how well it will go as I wasn't a good sewer before my injury and am a worse one since, worst case I buy some new ones.

Hope my tip helps someone! :winky:

TTFN The Scrapoholic aka Jill

rsd survival kit
 

I would ad ice to this but be very careful. You don't want to freeze the skin. I also use only 700 thread count and up. I know they are expensive but they allow me to lay right against the sheets and it helps. heat is my enemy but everyone is different

It is known that ice is the worst thing you can put on an RSD affected area. It is known to cause spread and/or make it worse. So be careful about using ice.

wow.........
 

hi there,

I was able to find this thread while searching for specific symptoms I have....I have sat here shocked, reading every post. I have felt like a freak of nature for 2 years, with symptoms that even my mother and fiance cannot help but question.

I cannot believe what I have read; everyone has the same issues I have- this is the most helpful and validating thing I have found since my injury and diagnosis.
thank you for making this "sticky"- i think it helped Google put it high in my search results.

I cannot express how much this thread has helped me. I have never spoken to one person who truly understood, let alone so many.

thank you to everyone.

I'm a Newby with CRPS in right foot
 

:wink::smirk::smirk:Hello, Newby today. I have CRPS in my right foot/calf. Second Sciatic Nerve Block/Ultrasound. Going for second treatment tomorrow. Just wanted to say HI:) and hope that I will find people who can share the same issue's. I'm also interested in learning about other person's issues. Hope to see you here after my block tomorrow.:wink:

My favorite socks!
 

The best socks are at walmart and they are in the section with foot insoles. Dr. Scholls makes them I believe they are so soft and have aloe vera in them. They are loose but not too loose. They mostly come in girl colors the closest male color I saw was a light blue. Im sure they sell more colors online. Regardless of how they look you wont care they feel amazing!

34 YEARS with CRPS/RSD and DOING WELL
 

After 35 years with CRPS/RSD, I have much to share, especially since the disease has stopped progressing and been in the process of regressing. I used to use a scooter. Now, I'm a walkie. I used to need 3600mg of Neurontin taken in 3 daily doses of 1200 mgs, 120mg of Cymbalta taken once daily, 5mg Methadone twice daily, and 2mg Klonopin at bedtime, plus Lidocaine patches. Even with all this medication, the pain was still extreme and I needed a scooter to get around. The disease began when I was 23 years old. I'm 57 now. I feel and look younger all the time. I no longer need a scooter. I've reduced my medication amounts to 1200 Neurontin daily (400mg morning and noon - 500mg at bedtime), Cymbalta 60mg, and Methadone 5mg twice daily and 1mg Klonopin. I plan to keep reducing medications, with my doctor's supervision of course, as I am able.

The most effective medical treatments have been intravenous immunoglobulins (IvIg) and intravenous glutathione (started at 6 grams and ended up sticking with 10grams) together with intravenous lipoic acid. I took Iv glutathione first, after one of my team of 3 doctors ordered a blood test that showed that my body was not producing glutathione. Glutathione is not a drug. It is an antioxidant made in the human body. It is the only intracellular antioxidant and especially important to brain and liver functions.

Lipoic acid is not a drug. It too is an antioxidant made in the human body. Tests, mostly in European countries, have shown lipoic acid administered intravenously is effective in reducing the pain of neuropathy. Lipoic acid also helps the body make and use glutathione.

For a year, I received Iv glutathione followed by a quick saline flush of the Iv line and that followed in turn by Iv lipoic acid. I had daily infusions, then every other day....and now every two weeks. From the get go, I noticed a huge reduction in both pain and involuntary muscle movement, an increase in energy, and improved mental clarity. After about a year and a half, the lipoic acid began feeling too harsh for my veins. It began to burn going in and to cause infiltrations, which is when the vein pops a crack and the liquid substance being administered via Iv floods into the neighboring area outside the vein. I decided to take glutathione only - no lipoic acid - in order to save my veins for glutathione and what turned out to be the wonder drug - the Privogen brand of intravenous immunoglobulins (IvIg).

The doctor who was giving me the glutathione and lipoic acid is a renowned infectious disease specialist. Despite his years at the top of medicine, he is not a 'party line' type of guy. Instead, he prefers to help his patients by doing what works and is not harmful. The doctor knew about old studies demonstrating the efficacy of IvIg for other autoimmune diseases, especially Multiple Sclerosis (MS). He was also treating my daughter for MS. He sent both of us for blood work to investigate our immunoglobulin and immunoglobulin subclasses production. The test results came back with almost identical results for both my daughter and me. We barely had any immunoglobulins and hence, barely any immune systems. No wonder we were plagued by constant infections, had numerous allergies and caught viruses too easily and too often. ! I wonder if any other CRPS/RSD people also have low immunity? I believe it is important to find out the answer to this question, because the answer would indicate a reason to direct research into autoimmune territory.

This year, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published an article on a study demonstrating the effectiveness of IvIg for MS patients. If you do some research, you will find that IvIg has been used effectively for many autoimmune diseases, such as: MS, Lupus, Rhematioid Arthritis, CRPS/RSD, etc. If you do some more research, you will find the numbers supporting the efficacy IvIg for autoimmune disease surpass the numbers that are supposed to support the use of immune modulating (read, immune killing) drugs with horrific side effects. And, the so called "side effects," are real effects to the people having them! The immune killing/modulating drug recommended to my daughter "MIGHT reduce the instances of exacerbation or flare for 29% of patients with relapsing remitting MS. A greater amount, 32% of those not taking the drug, WILL NOT have another exacerbation or flare. The "side" effects include, lymph cancer, liver cancer, and stupor.

So, why do you think relatively safe IvIg treatment is rare. It is because insurance does not pay enough to cover even the cost to the doctor of purchasing the IvIg. Among IvIg brands there is a range of costs and safe or non-safe ingredients (sucrose instead of saline for one example), as well as safe or non-safe production methods for clearing the immunoglobulins of all pathogens. My doctor uses only Privogen, because he has used it for many years without any trouble.

Pharmaceutical companies have zero interest in IvIg, because it is not something they can make and patent. The representatives of these companies visit doctors and sell them on their drugs. Newspapers, magazines, and television news publicize research done to develop drugs or surgical techniques at the expense of other research performed to discover and document other, safer ways of treating illnesses. To find out all options available, it takes a a couple of capable and passionate researchers, like my daughter, me and our doctor too.

Once the doctor treating me and my daughter observed our responses to IvIg, he changed our dose to 20grams every 21 days. It is expensive! Insurance won't pay for it, even though testing shows we need it based solely upon the results of immunoglobulin subclass testing. In other words, we have a demonstrated medical need for IvIg to survive. If we can't have it, an infection or virus will get us sooner rather than later.

After 8 months of IvIg at 20grams every 21 days (a shorter interval is okay - going more than 21 days without an IvIg infusion has not and should not happen), the CRPS that began in my right big toe joint and spread throughout my body is in rapid retreat. I have much less pain, much more energy, much less involuntary muscle movement and cramping, much less heating up of the body due to inflamed nerves, more energy, more clarity of mind. I am a walkie now! No more scooter! I'm reducing medication amounts on a daily to weekly basis.

We are saddled with a meld of the pharmaceutical industry and insurance industry that together form as system that is erroneously termed a medical system. If the system was a medical one, IvIg would be available to those who need it. All who test as deficient in immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin subclasses need it. All with autoimmune disorders need it. Instead, the joint pharmaceutical and insurance systems give people pharmaceutical treatments with horrific effects.

That's enough about the pharmaceutical/insurance system and the medical treatments that have worked like good magic for me (age 57 -CRPS/RSD for 34 years) and for my daughter (age 31 - MS for many years).

Now, I'd like to let you know about other things I have done to help reverse and eliminate CRPS/RSD. In the course of research, I discovered that just about everyone with an autoimmune disorder is either allergic to gluten or has celiac disease. Even though I was not aware of being allergic to gluten, I chose to go without gluten and see what happened. I felt much better! It takes some study, with books and/or gluten-free and celiac disease websites, to eliminate gluten for the diet. Gluten is added to so many things - toothpastes and generic medications for instance! It is not worth simply eliminating grains from the diet, because that alone will not keep your free of gluten and gluten intolerance/allergy symptoms. If you want to eliminate gluten, learn about all the additives (caramel flavor or coloring, sorbitol, etc) that include gluten. As for the generic drugs containing gluten, your pharmacists will not know enough to give you reliable information. Most do not even know that gluten is an ingredient.! Chalk up another anti-health point for the pharmacuetical industry!

Therapeutic movement was and will probably always be an important part of my recovery regimen. For me, I began with Rehabilitative Pilates and moved on to Rehabilitative Gyrotonic Movement. Both my daughter and I find the Gyrotonic movement method to be especially neuroregenerative, as well as vital in reduction of nerve related pain. The parts of my daughter's brain most effected by MS cause nerve pain much like mine. Consequently, we have been able to share and compare a great deal about relieving nerve pain.

I rode horses at a high level when I was younger and discovered that I could still do so. At first, I had to scooter up to the horse! I discovered the pain relieving effects of riding horses when I was staying with someone in the countryside outside Baltimore, while I was seeing a neurologist at Johns Hopkins in the course of the long search for a diagnosis. As at Mayo, Columbia Presbyterian, and other supposedly excellent medical facilities, the neurologist did not provide me with an adequate diagnosis. However, I my hostess knew a little bit about my former riding ability and invited me to go for a hack, which is a ride out in the country. Even as my mind factored the pain level, my heart leapt at the opportunity to feel a horse beneath me again. I went riding, and then I waited for the pain to increase. I waited and waited. Not only did the pain not increase, it subsided a little bit.

After that experience, I did some research. I discovered that riding horses has been proven to relieve the pain of MS and other neurological disorders. I took up riding again. Now, I can hand walk a horse for 20 minutes, do some gyrotonic movement for 20 t0 40 minutes, and keep active throughout the day. I still need to take meds and get to bed by 8pm - 9pm on rare occasions.

I recommend lidocaine patches for the worst areas - in addition to other meds. They help a lot.

I wish you a way out of the pain! I wish the same for all who suffer from pain of all kinds. I hope some of the things I have shared will help you too. Regarding IvIg, I believe that sharing with others to create a critical mass of informed people may be the only way insurance companies can be persuaded that paying for this therapy is more cost effective than paying for all the drugs I have found to be both dangerous to health and ineffective.

I have discovered that, instead of killing off an entire immune system to fix one part of it not working properly, using IvIg to help the immune system to work properly as a whole, is a prudent and viable form of treatment.













:grouphug:

Thank you for all of this information. Just when I get insurance approval for Ketamine, something that I may want (IVIG) is out of reach for me due to insurance denials. May I ask what IVIG costs? Thanks.

Ambika are you doing the IVIG in baltimore? IVIG is somthing im going to try and fight for. Im not ready for the ketamine unless i absoutly have to.

Hot shower
 

When the hot water hits my neck, the pain in my hand improves slightly. I assume it is gate-control distraction, but I take on average 4 showers a day. Hope to invest in a hot tub one day.

i ended up having sleeves made, called bio skin, they put very soft fleece in them.

Try This!! New Treatment!
 

So happy that I am able to spread the word to fellow RSD/CRPS'ers. :)
My mother suffers from CRPS in her left leg. Cannot explain to you how badly this has changed her life and ours. Her pain is just to much to handle. Up until now the pain and depression had taken over her life. We were researching Ketamine treatments, we're desperate. It was that time that I prayed and received an email the next day!
Has anyone heard of Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment!?
Its new, developed in Italy.
There are currently only 20 of the machines in the US.
I was lucky enough to get my mother into the only doctor located on the West Coast.
She had consult yesterday
and her first treatment today!
She literally went from a 8-9 pain to walking out pain free!!
Wow is all I can say.
You can research it, but basically it scrambles the brain. It re-programs the brain that there is no pain there.
Its non invasive, no side effects and ITS NOT PAIN FULL!
Usually it consists of 10-12 treatments 45 min
these are done every day.
The pain is gone immediately and lasts for a few hours.
Gradually the pain comes back
However, each day the therapy is done it comes back less and less
until finally, its gone completely or at a 1-2.
Some people have gone 3 months pain free to 1 year!
If the pain comes back, you simply go back in for a booster treatment!
This is such a MAJOR breakthrough for people with the chronic pain condition and my mom is proof!! SO exciting I had to share the success. and did I mention its something like 91% effective!! :winky::grouphug::D:p:);):grouphug::D:D:D:D:D:D:D

I only wear fluffy socks! Those fuzzy ones, they don't really have a seam and they don't really effect my sensitivity and most of the time keep my ankle/foot warm. I have also started wearing clothes where I can where leggings. I usually wear a long shirt with black leggings under them so I look stylish but am very comfy! I also have a body pillow that I fold in half to keep my foot up while I sleep. Warm always seems to help my pain so I also put a room heater in my bedroom and turn it on a little while before I go to bed so my room is toasty before I go to bed, that way I don't have to put a blanket over my leg. And I swear by my teas. I drink chamomile, tension tamer, and sleepy time tea before bed to help me relax. I hope this helps.

I wear skirts and pantyhose to work - don't like the way pants feel on my foot/leg. Also covers the scars and discoloration. Berkshire longwear pantyhose are the best.

Ballet flats on sale at Easy Spirit

Ice pack

Bubble bath (raise foot on edge of tub)

Breathing machine - e.g. StressEraser

Handwarmer (charges in computer)

Nice makeup/hair (don't we all feel better when we look our best?)

Tools of distraction - Kindle, iPad, iPhone

Socks, lots of white socks - and traction socks. The latter hurt (buy the largest size whatever size you are) but lessen the fall risk

Boots with zippers on the side (leave them unzipped all the time)

Folding travel blanket/pillow

Lightweight luggage

A stable of folding/lightweight travel clothes (e.g. Walmart - "George" brand) mostly all in black

SCS Settings
 

I thought I was doing something wrong and it was my fault that my device wasn't helping my pain and usually made it worse. I just found out that this sometimes happens to people with RSD. I'm not ready to give up because I feel that the device might be my only hope.

So here's my question: What types of settings, frequencies, etc., have worked for you guys?

Also wondering how many have tried sympathetic nerve blocks and if treatment worked. Did for me long ago but before scs had a series of 5 with no success.:confused:

To natasha
 

NATASHA: The Calmare Treatment sounds like a better option than Ketamine infusions. Is Calmare usually covered by insurance. Also, Dr. Michael in Rutherford, NJ, offers this option to patients with neuropathic pain. Has anyone used this doctor?