I figure I should ask somebody, and y'all know more than any doc I liable to meet, so...I was talking to a fellow at work yesterday and he noticed my left hand was bright red while my right wasn't, it looked normal. I took note last evening that it appeared to be slightly swelled as well, barely noticeable, but swelled none the less. There is no pain, nothing unusual at all other than that. I use my left hand to drive the forklift, so I am hoping and praying that it's just from that. I am wondering if it means anything, or if it would have to be combined with pain or tingling or something for concern to be warranted. Thanks all, God Bless, Smoke

That how mine started out color changes then it blow up after that get it check out right away.

do you have rsd in other parts of your body?

Hi Smoke,
Yes, reddish color and swelling are definetly signs of RSD. Do you have a good RSD Dr.
If not, check into finding a good orthopedic hand specialist. Like a sports injury group. They have a Dr. for Hand, Dr. for knees, Dr. for shoulder etc. After 4 years of RSD, that is what I did. The ortho hand diagnosed me in 1 minute. Came back home and found a good neurologist and a good ortho hand Doc. I underwent the physical therapy, and got part use of my fingers back. They now can bend a little, enough to type, cut my own food etc. If I hadn't been misdiagnosed and got into p.t. sooner, I'm sure I would have full use of my left hand. I have full body RSD. When my toes started curling up, my Dr. had me start exercising right away in the pool. and in about 4 months, my toes were touching the ground again. So important to get therapy and keep limbs from freezing up and being paralyzed. You are EARLY in catching this spread, if that is what it truly is. Please don't delay in getting to Dr. and therapy. Take care, loretta

I think it is wise to keep notes as you are doing,Smoke. I have done the same thing. The memory issues have made it an obligation to myself and the WC case that I am involved in since 2007.

I hope it is not an additional RSD spread for you. You will be in my thoughts and meditation prayers.

I have RSD in my left leg, until very recently (within the past two months) exclusively in my knee, give or take a little. Had it for four-five years now. Lately it has manifested as a pain first in the top of my foot, like a nail being driven into it, and then I had pains right where my buttock meets my leg. As these pains are comin' and goin', not in any way a constant thing, I am still praying it stays in the left knee and nowhere else. There have been several times where I had mirror pains in my right leg as well, scares me, but these are few and far between, within the same two month period of time, maybe three or four times. These only happen after work, tired and I figured it's just overuse, not used to the amount of lifting, ya know?

I live in the sticks. My therapy consists of taking care of our fourteen month old son, working as a parts delivery guy in a factory, and when we have a week off or something, I walk at the mall, go to the park, etc. I just move around until it feels like my leg is on fire, eat some more percocet, and walk some more. It hurts like heck that night, but the next day it's ok, nearly pain free. (A 2-3 on the pain scale as opposed to a 5-6 or 7. That's pain free to me) If it's really tight, I stretch it. In '93 I sprained/strained my whole back, was off work for over a year, and had to have therapy for months. I have been using what I learned from that to treat this, and it appears to be working thus far. My only concern is that I am getting laid off and losing my insurance, and I dunno how I will be able to deal with the pain enough to work the leg without painkillers. The Lord will provide, and that's all I can count on. As far as specialists, the closest one is probably in Hershey, or Johns Hopkins, in either case too far to go, and I'm a poor man, soon without coverage. Mr Obama, Senators, Congresspeople, pass the legislation already, cut us poor folks a break.

Thank you Dew, you have been a great help to me, always with a kind word and a prayer, and that means a lot to me. I pray your memory issues resolve, I have not noticed much in the way of that personally. My memory always was pretty poor, and although I tell people it was all the drugs I took when I was younger,(as a joke) it preexisted that. Mum's the same way, as is my older son, it seems. Selective memory. I can tell you all about politics, history, various pharmaceuticals, economics, etc, but as far as what happened last week or when someones birthday is, phone numbers, etc, I am a blank slate. Weird. The only thing I have noticed declining is my spelling, which I used to be quite good at. Spellcheck, spellcheck, thank God for spellcheck. lol