I hope all is well with you. Can you give us an update as to how things are going for you???

G ~

[trix]

Things seem to be going all right.
The pain is greatly reduced. I haven't had to take break through meds for at least a week.
PT is hard. It is mostly massage and gentle stretches at this point, but it does help.
I can finally wear a bra!!!!!!!!!
I got a very favorable report from my surgeon, so I hope that we can settle with the insurance company soon. Maybe some of our money problems will be taken care of then.
I do have something new and weird going on with my hands though. Right now they are pale and freezing cold. Last night they were so swollen and red, the skin was all shiny. I barely got my rings off. I had on a loose bracelet that my DH had made for me, and it was so painful on my skin that my son had to take it off of me. He also had to take my watch off because the skin was so swollen around it. I had a very hard time falling asleep, they hurt so much. When I woke up this morning, they were pale and freezing cold. The right is always worse than the left.
I am going to go to the Dr. in the next few days and ask him about that and about what kind of work he thinks I would be able to do. I need to get a job, or get some kids into my daycare. Our financial situation is quite dire at this point. We are due to renegotiate our mortgage in May, and right now out credit score is so low no one will give us a reasonable interest rate.
Well that is all that is new. Talk to you soon.
Tracy

[gibbrn]

Hi,

Oh the day when we can say I can finally wear a bra again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You know you're on your way to improvement when you can wear this horrible contraption again!!!!! lol

Love and hugs,

Victoria

[Rachael]

Thanks for the update. Hopefully things will work out well for you. I have no ideas about the new hand issue. I am sure someone will be able to offer you some insight.

Take Care
Rachael

[tshadow]

I am sorry about the hand issue, when other things sound so positive. Please let us know what your doc says about that, ok?

God bless.

[dawn3063]

I hope that your Dr will be able to let you know what is going on with your hands. It sounds like you should get into see him as soon as possible to get that taken care of. Please keep us updated on what he has to say about your hands.
Many Hugs
Dawn

[DDayMBB]

I was just wondering with the swelling and redness, if your hands amd forearms are swollen and red? Do you have "aldonyia" on your arms that a light breeze on the skin or your clothing rubbing against he skin actually hurts and as far as your hands are concerned, since you mentioned they are red. swollen and cold... do they burn/ feel like they are on fire if so I would get to the Dr ASAPas this may be the sign of CRPS/RSD setting in and if it is get it taken care of befoer it has a chance to spread! Especially if the insurance company is paying everything so far, they may want to do some Ketamine therapy to stop it right in its tracks.... just a suggestion, I am sure there are others here that can explain things better than I regarding this!

Mark-n-Goober

[trix]

I did have the alodynia when my hands were swollen and red. I had a braclet on, it wasn't tight, but the feel of it against my skin was unbearable. The redness was in my entire hands and wrists, and around my elbow joint. The redness around the elbow joints has not gone away, and it is sensitive to the touch, but not unbearable. My hands seem to go from pale and icy,looing almost skeletal to red, shiny, swollen and hot. When they are red and swollen they are sensitive totouch, even the air blowing over them. I also get the redness and swelling on my face, shoulders and chest. It doesn't always happen at the same time, and it isn't constant.
By the time I go to the Dr. none of the more pronounced symptoms are present. It is hard to explain to him without being able to show him. I just want to get to a place where I can be okay, even if these symptoms are present.
Iwant my life back!

[beth]

Trix,

If this is RSD, and you didn't have these sx prior to surgery, then it's a result of a nerve being injured during surgery. It is a risk of ANY surgery, unfortunately. Make sure to note down each of the sx and the time it occurs, i.e., when it starts and when it goes away, daily for at least 3-4 days to a week, so you have something for the Dr to go by. Also, have dh take pictures of your red, swollen hands. Even if they don't feel cold at the time, if the Dr uses thermi-strips on the backs of your hands he may see an lower-than-norm temp.

You may be able to reproduce the sx for him by holding your hands up near your head (not above!) for a few minutes, holding them under cold running water, or writing a long letter or list of questions while in the waiting room. Don't injure yourself! It is very upsetting I know when the sx refuse to show up for the Dr but reappear the minute you are in the car driving home!!

The dx/treatment for RSD is stellate ganglion blocks, this is a nerve block to the sympathetic nerve ganglion (bundle or chain) at T2, it's a bit scary cause they go into your neck with a long needle, but they use a x-ray machine called a florouscope to guide the needle. You will get a shot of local anesthesia first, or you may be completely sedated, either way, you won't feel pain, but if you aren't put under, you will feel pressure. Afterwards, you may have a droopy eye for a while, and your whole arm and hand will feel warm and completely normal (yippie!) if it is a good block.

These blocks are usually done in a series of 3, over a short period of time (some Drs do all 3 in a week, some do them a week apart, others longer, totally depends on Dr - but what I've read suggests closer together is better) -and if your results are good, meaning the normal feeling lasts longer each time, they will repeat the blocks. Some Drs will only do 6 or 9 blocks total, others do them as long as they are continuing to help. The MOST important thing is to get them done EARLY. Take your list and pictures to your Dr, express your concern, and ask for a consult with a pain management Dr., anesthesiologist or neurologist who regularly sees and treats RSD. Many Drs don't recognize it and misdiagnose it, and so many patients don't get the blocks done early enough to stop the RSD before it becomes chronic, so you need to get to a Dr who really knows and regularly treats RSD, that's really important.

Please do talk to your Dr about this soon, ok?

beth

[Jomar]

Awesome details beth !

Trix you might want to read /post on the RSD forum too.
To maximize your knowledge base so you can convince your doc for the fast testing and blocks if needed.

Shelley is getting blocks today- I'm sure she'll post when she is able to update us on hers.

Dawn might be too, now that i think of it.??