My wife's legs and feet became swollen several months ago from RSD. Her legs turned a pasty white and her freckles and hair disappeared. Now her swelling is completely gone and her freckles, color have returned! Just two weeks ago the doc increased her cymbalta (or celebrex?) intake and prescribed a 2 week dose of prednisone. I'm very happy for her.

Jimking: I guess my first question to you is how did your wife get her RSD? Also what made her hair fall out and her feet began to swell up in the first place? I guess I just want to know more about what happened to start all of this? Breezy55

In 2002 she fell and broke her wrist in which she acquired RSD. For four years she was not treated for it even though RSD was peppered thru out her records. Doctors claimed she was nuts etc., gave her advil for pain. Her employers made her life miserable. Same old story for many with RSD. The RSD spread into her other arm, her neck, lower back then both legs and feet. About 2.5 years ago we finally found doctors that would treat her immediately after her termination and my employer's insurance kicked in. In the beginning of the pain in her feet her toe nails started to grow abnormally. They became very thick and started to grow out of her toes at a 30 degree angle, every one of them. Sometime later the swelling started. This lasted for many months if not a year.

That's great news! I read in a paper somewhere about prednisone helping. Or did it happen after the increase in cymbalta? Either way it's an awesome thing! :-D

Hugs,

Karen

jim
Ita always nice to hear when someone is receding with their disease ,,,,,,,,,,,God is a mercifull God,praise him




bobber

Jimking,

This is wonderful news I know my swollen knees and legs feel so much better when they relax and I can move them.

The prednisone does cause a quick reverse in the inflammatory process, and also an upbeat mood. However, it also can bring weight gain because of the water retention by-product of the medication, and mood changes by a lower threshold of the anger emotion(when used for a prolonged period of time).

The Cymbalta assists in pain control and depression;specifically, increasing the hormones that bring an upbeat mood (seritonim,sp?)and lowers the pain signal processes (norepinephron,sp?); for example, neuropathy.

This is based upon research and my own life experience with Cymbalta and prednisone medications.

In any case, your wife has relief and that is what we all strive for..a break in the pain arena.


CHEERS!!!!!
,
Dew

I'm SO glad to hear that your wives swelling has gone down, JimKing - it gives me hope that things can get somewhat better also!!

I deal with a lot of inflammation also so know how hard it is to deal with. I have had it constantly for 2 years now and nothing I have tried has helped so far. When it first appeared, it came overnight and I remember waking up to my leg hurting a LOT more than usual and my leg weighed a ton. My mum called my Doctor and it was so bad that he thought I had Compartment Syndrome or a Blood Clot so admitted me into hospital to do some tests.

The tests came back OK thankfully but showed a lot of tissue swelling that my doctor said was from the RSD.

I hope things start getting even more better for your wife - I know this must be a huge relief for the both of you !

Take care and send my love to your wife!

Thanks everyone! She's not taking Cymbalta but Celebrex instead, I wasn't sure in my original post. She's only taking the steroid for two weeks only. Her swelling is completely gone.

Awesome!! I am REALLY happy for both of you.

Sandy

ah.... this is what i was referring 2 in my thread ("swelling down, etc.?"). i was on celebrex 4 a while - then triggered acid reflux! so... w.c. has pd 4 Nexium! i can tell that upon relaxation (sometimes!), my swelling is down. thks 4 this report!