I googled "aches and pains natural pain relief"
i used the images search option- but if you click on a pic it will take you to the site where you can read more about the product-
http://images.google.com/images?svnu...ef&btnG=Search

I've also heard that sunflower seeds are a pain reliever. Anyone tried it? I'm sure it's not very strong but being that it's natural it might be worth a try. When I say sunflower seeds I'm talking the home grown natural ones, not those processed jobbies from the store. Think we'll have some pretty sunflowers growing this next summer!

Thank you VERY much!! I appreciate that.

Hi Vanessa,
I have used Skullcap tintcure for when the nerve pain does get to much. I take 10 to 30 drops, 3 times day. St. John's Wort in Virgin Olive Oil works, numbs the skin. I Have tried this too. But I don't use it much. Hope this helps.

Annick

Hello,

My nephew was diagnosed with RSD in June. He has primarily left foot and leg leg pain, but now it has spread to the right side.

We would love any advice you can offer!

We have tried the following with some success (any advice here is helpful):
- physical therapy
- swimming in heated pools
- light therapy
- foot baths (warm water)
- electrical stimulation machine at home
- accupuncture (just a few times)

What suggestions do you have for the following that we'd like to learn more about:
- nutrition (supplements and vitamins? fish oil?)
- diet
- blood testing or other testing - are we missing anything?
- serotonin or other chemical imbalances that may effect how a body handles pain?

(PS - We are in the San Francisco Bay Area, so any support groups or other families willing to share stories would be great to hear about! )

Any help would be great. Many Thanks and Happy New Year to All,
Sue

Hi all,

A month before I had surgery on my rsd foot (this past Aug 08) I started to take the following vitamins:

• Multi-Vitamin
• Vitamin B complex 50 mg
• Calcium 500 mg
• Vitamin D 400 mg 3 x per day
• Vitamin C 1000 mg 3x per day
• Fish Oil 1000 mg 3 x per day

Post surgery I started Serrapeptase 90,000 I.U. 3 x per day an anti-inflammatory enzyme. Since taking this enzyme I have much improved range of motion and less pain.

Is this improvement a result of this product, the fact that the metal was removed from my foot, the vitamins, the increased frequency of IV lidocaine or all of the above? I'm not sure but I'm happy with results overall. Still not pain free but it is very manageable.

I just returned from my vacation so I am feeling the effects of flying. After my outbound flight it took 3 days to calm down the heightened sensitivity, the rest of my vacation I was in good shape and able to walk with limited pain and full range of motion. We just got home yesterday and I will have to see how I do on this end. We came back to 4 feet of snow and unable to drive to our house. It was a real challenge just to get into the house from the street.

Recently my PT pointed out to me that the new nail growth on my rsd foot appears to be much healthier. There is a clear pre/post surgery distinction line on my toe nails especially on my big toe.

Overall I feel healthier and stronger so I'll stick to this.

Happy New Year to you all.

Hi Venessa,
I tried all sorts of herbal and natural remedies. Here's a short list of what helped and what didn't:

- accupunture - worked and amazingly relieved my pain for a period of time
- chinese herbal teas - helped
- meditation - wonderful
- passive yoga - helped to move my body when I couldn't
- hydrocolonics - to clean out the constipated mess that narcotics created
- cranial sacral therapy - helped
- applied kineisiology - possibly helped didn't hurt
- messages - enourmously helpful for cramps in foot and ankle
- Reliv - a nutritiuonal supplement with a protein shake was the only food I ate many days

If your interested in more info I'd be glad to help you out. I believe that all alternatives help in some way to help attempt to balance the un-balanced(sick) body.
Peace,
Lisa

Vanessa
I have made some progress since my latest round of RSD started in late August 2005.

I started massage therapy (with a great therapist who also does cranial sacral therapy) almost immediately. I go to this woman every time I have a significant injury - knew her before RSD. Now that I have RSD, and she works on me, she can usually get the swelling down some, the color more normal, and the temperature better. Sometimes it lasts a couple days, sometimes only half an hour. When I first hurt my arm (the cause of the current problems with RSD) I started going to her 3 times a week for 1-1/2 hours. Now, a year and a half later, I am going every other week for 1-1/2 hours. She works on my RSD areas pretty much the entire time. I credit her work with me for the fact that I am so much better. She worked on me the last time I had RSD (it was in my foot then)... and I got almost 100% better before I hurt my shoulder and it came back. By the way, when I hurt my shoulder, the pain and symptoms came back in my foot. That diagnose that it was indeed RSD.

When I went to a knowledgeable pain mgmt doctor last year who worked with Stanton Hicks, she said there has been some research showing certain massage therapy can prevent the sensitivity to touch if started early enough. She questioned me a lot about mine - as I did not have very much sensitivity the first time I had RSD, and have not had this time either. I wish I could go back to her - she was good... but her office was in a building that my insurance would not pay the charge for - so I had to pay out of pocket $450 each office call plus my co-pay. It was a billing nightmare. Well anyway.....

I have problems with anti-inflamatories. So I take ginger capsules. They seem to help. I know I get worse if I run out and don't get any for a couple weeks. I also take grapeseed extract after reading Vicc's posts a year or so ago. Flax seed oil too because it is a good anti-oxident. I take tumeric, which is a natural pain reliever. I can't tell if that really helps or not. But, it's supposed to build up over time, so maybe not taking it for a day or so would not tell me. I take a mulit-capsule from my health food store for joint health that has a lot of things in it like pineapple extract (bromiline? bromide? something like that)..... I am at work right now or I would check on the name of the exact supplement for you. Another thing I take if I am flaring is arnica.. and use arnica gel. Magnesium, zinc because it's good for muscle problems (I've had painful muscles - myofacial pain for 30 years). Glucosamine condroitin for arthritis and joint health.

And, I try to eat right.... lots of fresh foods, few processed foods. Very few white things... lots of color. I have never been much for drinking (and can't when taking topomax) so I drink a little grape juice each day since I know wine is good for you.

I agree with lisa... meditation can really help. I've mentioned before that the book/cd combo Breakthrough Pain by Shinzen Young was a real turning point for me. I think the book, which is not very long, really helped me understand that you can separate your mind from the suffering that comes from pain. If you can take the fear out of the pain, it becomes much more bearable. Young really helped me understand a lot about pain, and what I could do to help myself through calm thoughts, breathing and a few minutes meditation.

good luck
Jules

the pineapple enzyme is called "bromalain" (I think), but I read about it in Mehmet Oz's books. Very hard to find.
Lori Lee

Just had my first massage today. It was very interesting. It felt like my therapist hands were on fire, not my skin. It was difficult to deal with at first but by the end of the hour I actually felt better. Burning returned a couple hours later, but I can see how desensitizing can work. I tan too and that was interesting a couple times as were mosquito bites. Bug bites burned for a long time even taking benadryl. Who would believe this? You can't make this stuff up! New to the issue so sorry if you have heard all this before.
Jerie