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.

Sheets- Northern night jersey sheets.
Pillow- Soft Tex

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.