Hi I am new here and only have had CRPS for about a yr now. I am dealing with alot of pain and uncontrolable swelling in bothe legs. Can anyone be of help to me if you have experienced this before and how do you cope with it?

Hello Greedy and Welcome to NT!!

It's nice to meet you!

I have had RSD/CRPS for 5+ years and am in constant pain (I'm allergic to Narcotic Pain relievers) I do take several other types of medications that help to take the edge off... a little.

I have occassional major swelling, but minor swelling always...

For swelling I try to prop my legs and/or arms up the best I can without increasing the pain. I've found for me, that warm, moist heat helps the swelling...

I don't let anything cold touch me if I can help it....cold hurts!!!

I hope others come along shortly to help you in any way they can... There is a WONDERFUL group of people here on the RSD/CRPS forum and all through out NT.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have and help others where you can... and Please feel free to roam around and jump in anywhere!!!

Hope to see you around the boards...

Abbie

Hi Greedy and Welcome,
I'm so sorry you have RSD. I got RSD after surgery and one of my symptoms was swelling. The Dr. took a syringe and withdrew a lot of fluid, It was lime green, which now I know means infection. I was referred to a rehab Dr. and Physical Therapy Have you been to an Orthopedic Sports Injury Dr.? I know Physical Therapy helped me along with Massage Therapy. I had frozen shoulder from the surgery. I know that the vitamin store has vitamins to lose excess water, like apple cider vitamins. There are also meds to lose excess water.
My Dr. always told me to lose excess water, the best thing to do is to drink plenty of water. What has your Dr. suggested? How is your blood pressure? A lot of us have high blood pressure due to RSD and the sympathetic nervous system. The para sympathetic nervous system causes low blood pressure. If it get too low, you can pass out. That happened to me, and I was out about hour and half, My husband was home, and was in a different part of the house. When I woke up I couldn't get up, so crawled and got his attention. I was in hospital 4 days. It usually happens more than once. I have a friend here that it has happened to 3 or 4 times. I check my pressure regular, bought a cuff.
Have you had your kidneys checked? The RSD can go to internal organs. Welcome again and hope you are having a good day. Take care, loretta

HI
Im sorry to hear about your condition,,I hope that youve found a GOOD TEAM OF DR'S , theres alot of info on www.rsdrx.com , and feel free to ask the group any questions you may have,,i know that exercises is the one best thing you can do to help,,Gotta keep moving,,i just stated doing aqua jogging in the pool,,,and paying to the Lord is a must,,, bobber

Hi Greedy,
I'm sorry your dealing with the leg pain and swelling...having RSD in lower limbs is so hard because it affects walking......
One thing that has helped me the MOST has been aqua therapy in a warm pool (92 degrees)

You can move in the water in ways you cannot move on land! A P.T. can show you some simple water exercises to get you started and then you can do them on your own. The temperature and circulaton in my foot/leg has gotten better too..the icy coldness of my limb isn't as bad and the overall swelling is down..

You can also do "cycling" in the water by holding on to one of those long "water noodles"..it is great to be able to MOVE in the water..

My water P.T. sessions are running out (one left) so I am freaking. I'm going to see if I can get a pass to the warm water pool and do it independently...
I hope you are able to try that...It's really good for your morale, too, as it makes you feel refreshed and and not so trapped in a hard-to-walk RSD body!!
Take good care,

hope4thebest

Hello and WELCOME to NT.
I agree with the PT in the water. I go to the Y twice a week to water walk or take a arthritis class. You have to keep moving and in the water we are weightless so it sooooo much easier.
I see a chiropractor 3 times a week. He is an activator doctor and doesn't use his hands. The activator is a small spring loaded instrument that he places on my spine where it needs adjusting. All the nerves run through the spine and keep it aligned is important so the nerves can function properly. Dr. Schwartzman in Philly told me seeing a chiropractor is the best thing I can do for myself. He dx my RSD 9 years ago. I have it full body with some organ involment.
Good luck, there are a lot of wonderful people on here.
Take care,
Sherrie

Hi. Are you on any meds or have you had any treatments? I hope you have a good pain doctor who is willing to work with you. If not I think you need to find one asap. Others have given good advice. As for coping I guess I have some better days and some cruddy ones. I try to stay in the day and not worry about tomorrow though this is very hard. I try to distract and do as much as I can and through the bad days hope that better ones are ahead. Also the support of my mom and trying to make other friends. This is a warm community that is very educated.