[baseballfan]

Hi All,

Whenever I have had a question or needed information you all have been helpful to me. I fell last Saturday and had to go to the ER. I sprained my ankle on my left foot which also happens to be where I have RSD. I have been on bed rest since then. I have an ace bandage wrapped around my foot/ankle which is killing with pain from the sensitivity from the RSD, plus the RSD pain, and also the pain from the sprain. I cannot ice my ankle due to ice making RSD worse. I am not sleeping well at all due to the pain and my ankle/foot is still really swollen and black and blue. How have the rest of you handled an injury at your RSD site? Also any ideas on how to tolerate the ace bandage better? Hope all of you have a good day and that your pain is not to bad today. Thanks for all your help.

Kate

[daylilyfan]

How about a "cast boot" ??

I am not sure how long you think you will need the support of the bandage, but if it will be a while, you might consider a boot instead.

I had stress fractures in my right foot in 2001 - it's how I first got RSD. I wore a cast boot - not sure of the proper name. I had one that came up mid calf. Then, got another that came up to my knee. That one was much better. My foot and entire leg was so swollen and bright red. The boot allowed me the flexability to loosen it a bit when I wasn't walking on it, but it would still keep the area stabilized. They tried a regular cast with me at first, but I could not stand it and my foot swelled so much - oh, it was not pretty... I was desparate to get that thing off... I think I already had RSD at that point.

I think the boot would serve the same purpose for you as a bandage, but would not be so tight and you could control what fabric was next to the skin, or wear a soft cotton sock or what ever you are used to.

When I would rest with my leg up, I could loosen the straps so my leg/foot was still immobile, but not constricted.

I was able to tolerate it because it doesn't move, and it's snug but not tight. I think a family doctor would have no problem ordering one. They are considered durable medical equipment, so check to see what your insurance covers. Shop around because I found prices varied greatly.

For the bruising, I have found Arnica Gel to work well. I take Arnica pills when I injure myself, and they do seem to take the edge off. I buy both products at my local health food store. The pills are very small and you put them under your tongue.

If you don't already have a Lidocaine or Lidocaine/Ketamine cream to use on your sensitive skin area, before putting on the ace bandage, that might work well too... many of us call it our RSD Cream...

Don't know if this helps. But, I sure feel for ya. Spent so many years in a boot or a knee high plastic AFO. Now, I wear a Lidoderm patch on each foot every day, and that helps.

[amb97]

Sorry you are hurting so much. It's bad enough to get hurt, but worse when you already have RSD. My RSD started in my ankle as well after a post-surgical infection in an injury from a car accident. About 14 months after the accident (before the doctors had diagnosed the RSD) I slipped while I was mopping and hurt my bad ankle again. I couldn't even get up for the rest of the day because of the pain and swelling. I went back to my ortho, and he prescribed some Relafen (an anti-inflammatory) and told me to keep it up and rest it. I'm actually considering asking the docs to add the Relafen back into my drug regimen because it really did help a lot with the swelling.

After my first surgery they had me in an "air-cast" for 9 months, it did help give me some support, but I later read that braces and casts are a BAD idea for RSD. The restriction can make the pain and swelling worse.

Maybe you could wet a washrag and freeze it so that you could allow it to reach a temperature that you can tolerate and still have a cool compress.

I REALLY hope you are able to find something that makes it bearable. Don't be afraid to call your doctor and tell them you need different medication.

Good luck!!

[fmichael]

Hi. I would get into a good pain clinic ASAP to see what they could suggest. It might be a good idea to even consider pumping local anesthetic into the affected area.

I join the other posters in urging extreme caution on the use of an Ace Bandage: constriction and CRPS is never a good combination. I know I couldn't tolerate it for more than 10 seconds, whether or not I was in pain to begin with!

[daniella]

Do you have a pain doc or a neuro who is treating your rsd? If not I agree you need to get into one asap. I am not sure how one would handle an injury in the rsd area. I do know keeping an rsd isolated or wrapped is not good but with injuries that is what they usually do so that is why I think you need to see someone who deals a lot with rsd. Feel better

[Dew58]

I agree with Mike and daniella..constriction to the RSD extremity is a big NO-NO!

[ali12]

Hey Kate,

So sorry to hear about your injury and that you are in so much pain right now from your injury! I know how painful injuries on top of RSD are so you are definitaley in my thoughts and I hope you feel better soon!

I have had about 3 injuries to my RSD arm and leg. I had a sprained wrist at the beginning of this year which REALLY hurt! My Doctor thought my arm was fractured at first as it was so painful and swollen.

When I recieved confirmation that it was 'just' a sprain, my doctor told me to wrap my arm in a really thick bandage pretty tightly to try and get rid of the swelling. That really hurt because of my RSD and the senstivity so I had to limit how often I wore it. I was also told to move my arm as much as possible after a few days to see if that helped any. It was REALLY painful at first but helped after so long.

If I was you, i'd keep your leg in the bandage until the sprain heals BUT keep is moving as much as possible also. I'd also call your PM Doctor to see if he could give you any advice on how best to treat this. I also took the highest dose of anti-inflammitaries that was safe to do so on the recemendation of my Doctor.

I hope you start feeling better soon and you are in my thoughts and prayers! If you ever need anyone to talk to, I am here for you!

Alison.

[AintSoBad]

Kate,
I'm so sorry for you!
Be careful, as has been said with the constriction, and there is some controversy with ice.
While ice itself is a no no. Cool is not necessarily so bad. It's to keep the swelling down.
So, if you can say, dampen a towel, and put it in the freezer, then, insulate it with another smaller towel, and wrap lightly with that.

I'm not saying to ICE your ankle, but gently cool it.
I've done this sort of thing many times, broken toes, the TOS, and ankles, they haveto be cooled, that's why the towel.
If you have a "icepack" or ice bag, use a towel, so it just "cools" the ankle.
keep the swelling down.

And, give it some "Tincture of time".
Stay off it for a while.

I feel so badly for you.

Please, take good care!

Pete

[angelrsd]

i have had injuries to both my feet that have rsd and one was a break and tendon damage the other ligament damage... i would maybe ask for a boot,, i had to ice one of my feet because the sweeling got so bad that i had no choice and it hurt like a son of a gun.. but i would try and use a cool as you can tolerate wash cloth or towel and try that first.. about the bandage i would try puttin a sock on that foot and see if that helps or not!! did they give you anything for the inflammation >?
hope that you start to feel better soon

carrie

[bobber]

this disease is weird,,what works fior one dosent for another,,,its an oxymoron,,,,rsd you have to keep moving it,,,the sprain,,youhave to rest it,,,i agree with the wet towel,,as for the boot,,,thats where you have to know for sure,,,either way could help of be a disaster,,,,hit the ant-inflams,,,,youve got my prayers,,when it rains it pours,,,,bobber