If I have to go somewhere and flare up and try to walk and use my cane, my BP goes high. However, after procedures that get done to me: nerve block & trial stimulator, my BP goes so low I get dizzy/vertigo and throw-up. I have learned to eat 1-2 pieces of bread right before I go to bed and to have something salty near my bed should I wake up with my dizzy spell. It helps but not completely. Salt, getting angry, etc. can make your BP rise.

Hugs.

Blood Pressure is a real problem for me
I take Atenolol, Methyldopa, Atacand and Coversyl every day for my BP and yet when it was checked on Tuesday it was 185/105
I had never had a raised BP before CRPS---Not even pregnancy induced so I figure that it is all to do with the sympathetic action on the vessels and the heart.
Unfortunately I have developed Left Ventricular Enlargement and Renal damage from my out of control BP, but at the moment I have no idea what else to do to control it.
Diet I can control but pain and stress I am not so good at
Bye for now
Tayla

Vanessa,

One big factor in fluctuating high blood pressure is STRESS. And the pain from CRPS is certianly going to cause stress.

The nurse at my PCP office can always tell when I am having a "bad day" with pain because of the blood pressure. Relaxation techniques can help if it is stress-induced.

Be sure to watch it carefully. Very high pressure can do damage. Ask your MD if you should invest in a home BP device. Sometimes it can be covered by insurance if it is prescribed.

Take care.

Mike

My blood pressure was high until we got the RSD into remission. I also went through 3 bouts of vertigo afterward. Fell several times because of it.

Tayla, try and do as mike says and do some relaxation techniques.

High blood pressure is why I lost Bill. His dad died at 42 with it and his Granddad was in his 50's when he died of it.

Bill's was so high for so many years that our PA said he shouldn't have been alive 5 years ago. They had him on so many meds we couldn't keep up with them and it never came down even on meds. It finally messed up his heart. What they called good for him was 110 underneath on a good day. His would get as high as 140 underneath. The top would go in the 200's. I couldnt' get him off of salt either.

Do work hard at getting it down. Sometimes we give credit to CRPS when it isn't always the case. It might have got yours high but it might not be what's keeping it there.

Take care,
Ada

Hi Ness!
My husbands blood pressure go's up. his Dr. told him it was due to his medications. It then went low.. again his medications!! His dr. had to adjust all of his meds Even his insulin due to this. Me>?? I have never had problems with high BP it started after I got this RSD because of the pain I am in. it go's up some.the Dr. told me. how many meds are you on Ness? did you notice this with the newest ones they gave you? did this start after RSD meds?? pain?? write down when you take you meds. one pill at a time, or if you have to take a couple at a time, wait for an hr. check your blood pressure after this time. check it, write it down. I'm surprised the dr. didn't tell you to do this. Anyway, I hope and I will pray for it to stay good! Love ya Ness!! hugs, Love Desi

I replied to this topic last year. Since then I've been able to stabilize my blood pressure to a fair extent by breathing out twice as long as in. My doctor change what I was doing with the breathing from 15minutes once a day to 3-5 minutes befor breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

Like you I'v ehad full cardiac work up showing no heart problem . A vascular physician/cardiologist diagnosed dyautonomia from CRPS/RSD. Like "in his hands" I would pass out from low BP and broke my nose passing out on one occasion. I could not stand in a cue at Woolies as my BP would drop. In the same day it would sour to very high with my face going red. Medication made this worse in as much as if there was any possibility of a drop in BP from medication I would have an extreme reaction. Then when it did drop it took 90 minutes or more before I could get up. Ambulance attendents couldn't take a pulse or BP. I would sweat profusely and over heat. It was thought that I got sympathetic exhaustion at times hich also caused the drop. I haven't ben ablke to take pain medication for a few years now but the breathing has stabilized my blood pressure to the extent that I haven't passed out in 12 months. I usually get swings in BP but not as extreme.

The basic principal in this is that anything that activates the parasympathetic nervous system will bring down BP as it brings about a balance between sysmpathetic and parasympathetic. Controlled breathing will do this.

I also have had great success with mirror visual therapy which has gioven me relief from pain and symptoms. Since last December I've had breaks between flare ups whereas before this I had no breaks at all and was feeling fairly desparate. I'm having a right lower quadrant flare at present and am dealing with that with mirror therapy. If interested have a look at my blog crps-rsd-a-better-life. The link is in my last post a few above this one. There's asearch at the top left of the blog. If you put in BP or blood pressure it will bring up what I've written about this. Hope this helps you. I know I was pretty scared when I was as bad as you.
jeisea

Hi Ada,

I try and do all the right things as far as I can. I watch my diet, have no salt, I try relaxation, deep breathing-- Everything I can and still even with all of those horrible medications, it won't come down.
Unfortunately I think it because of the damage that has already occured to my heart.
I have had a horrendous couple of years, having spent almost a year in hospital with infections and in that time I developed endocarditis as a result of septicaemia, my physicain seems to think this maybe the source of my problems.
Anyway I will still try everything that is suggested by you all---grateful thanks for all your input.
Tayla

My resting blood pressure was always very close to 120/ 80 and pulse was right at 60 most of the time whether stting or standing.

After the RSD my blood pressure has ranged from 58/ 23 to 188/ 115 and my pulse from 28 to 125. It seems the the high numbers are both the result of pain AND a physical means for the body to suppress the pain. The low numbers are usually the result of tranquilizers or powerful pain killers.

Anytime I can suppress the pain through outside means the BP will drop down to normal though it hasn't always been immediate.

Yeh, I have dysautonamia as well - can't even spell it. The drs just say that it's part of me having RSD. Means that I have orthostatic hypotensions and so we are hopefully getting a tilt table. As I'm bed/ wheelchair I have a tilting bed which gets me up to 40 degrees to try and manage it but it's definetly not brilliant! It's one of the most annoying things. But as with all things you learn to live with it. The worst is when it drops suddenly and then you are on the floor. My pulse is incredibly high (generally 150) and my O2 stats very low (94 on a good day) so my sats are absoloutly screwed! but no worries!! But it also goes high occasionally for no reason!!!

So, it all continues!

Such fun!! love ya

Froggsy xxxxxxx

I am new to this sight but I have had RSD for 7 years. My blood pressure was always great and now just over the past 3-4 years I now take 2 blood pressure pills daily. They say my problem is pain induced hypertension ??? I often think sometimes they just say something because they really are clueless! I overall like my doctor and he has brought me a long way but there are days when I just think is it worth it all (pain 24-7, Dr. after Dr., medications enough to float a boat, etc.) gets old some days.
I am glad to know there are other people who are out there to talk too!
Hanging In There