On RSDHope it mentions bruising beside the #2 inflammation entry. http://www.rsdhope.org/Showpage.asp?...=3&PGCT_ID=545

At RSDSA is a link called Skin Complications in RSD patients. It's the 4th bold head named Complications, 2nd article under Wounds that won't heal. There are pictures and discussion, bruising is mentioned. http://www.rsds.org/2/library/articl...ive/index.html

http://www.rsds.org/3/clinical_guide...hotos_5_8.html

3rd picture with bruising

taken from a lawyer page describing rsd. This is pretty much the same words on rsd hope link above.

http://usarsd.org/page_symptoms.php Also mentions bruising under inflammation.

http://www.rsdcanada.org/parc/englis...arc-pearl.html Bruising easily is under the Vitamin C entry here. Very interesting read! It covers the vit and minerals that may explain some things.

Hope this all helps anyone who needs it.



Karen

Karen,

Thanks for this information. I have red blotches and bruise-like patches on my legs, mostly on the feet and lower leg here and there. I never gave it much thought until now.

Dear Ali and Karen -

Thank you so much for your contributions to this thread. For years I have had recurrent non-traumatic bruising at the site of my original injury. At first, I had it photographed, but the responses from my doctors were always the same, some version of "I dunno."

Personally, I think that the bright boy or girl who finally explains the mechanism of endothelial [from endothelium: the layer of epithelial* cells that lines the cavities of the heart and of the blood and lymph vessels and the serous cavities of the body, originating from the mesoderm] and/or small blood vessel dysfunction in CRPS at the cellular level will have moved the ball farther downfield than anyone else in recent times. And here I'm talking not just about reduced blood flow/oxygenation, but actual structural changes in the nature of very small blood vessels and/or their linings.

My hunch is that it's a big deal posing as an artifact.

Mike

*The covering of internal and external surfaces of the body, including the lining of vessels and other small cavities. It consists of cells joined by small amounts of cementing substances. Epithelium is classified into types on the basis of the number of layers deep and the shape of the superficial cells. http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?epithelium

Thank you all so much for the replies - I really appreciate your input!!

I suspect that the bruising is probably from the fall but I dont know. When we spoke to my PM Dr about it on Tuesday, he said that he has never seen bruising before in RSD and that is why he suspects I have some underlying injury from the fall, be it a fracture, soft tissue damage etc. We wont know for certain what is wrong until we go for it re-xrayed Tuesday. When I normally go into a flare, my skin changes colour although it doesn't bruise ... it just goes red.

Daniella - Thank you for your input. The bruising came a few hours after the injury along with the swelling. It started off red and then turned purple etc. I haven't had any blood work done lately but my PM Dr did mention taking some blood to check for any clotting issues - I think he must have decided against that though as he never said anything else about it unless he does it when I see him Tuesday.

Jennelle - I had been thinking about being anaemic also. My diet is the same as its always been so i'm not sure if its that though. I'm the first to admit that I dont always eat healthily - I am a stress eater and we are currently waiting for a referal to a dietician about it. Thanks for the idea ... i'll bring it up when at my appt Tuesday.

Sandy - Thank you for the prayers, I really appreciate them!! We spoke to my dr about Vitamin C and he said that it hasnt been proven to help with RSD but tha it might be an idea to take it. I'll speak to my mum about the dietry supplements. Thanks again!

Karen - Thank you SO much for the links, I really appreciate you taking the time to research things for me and will definitiely check them out!!

Heres a quick photo of my arm so you can swee the bruising. I will keep you all updated on how my appointments go and what we find out. Thanks again for the ideas and advice!

Ali, the bruising looks very painfull. I have bruising issues but I do believe I am anemic. My doctor has put me on a special vitamin (which I forget to take), My children make fun of me because they know they can't be rough with me (they are 2 boys 13 and 16). They know I'll get a bruise.

Be well and take care of yourself! Linda

I hope your arm and hand is better today. It looks so bad in the picture.

You must have fallen pretty hard for all of that bruseing.

I too was thinking you maybe anemic. I was when I first started with all of this but I'm ok now.

Hopefully your Dr. will do some bloodwork on you. It could be a combination of both the fall and anemia.

Take care,
Ada

Ali,

That arm looks *REALLY* bad! I do hope they start giving you treatment for RSD fast and that it does something to alleviate the pain and what you are going through.

You are in my thoughts!

Wow Ali,

You are such a brave spirit! Hang in there.

My bruising came from blood drawn. I have discoloration in both legs;however, my discoloration is nothing compared to your pic above.


Dew