Is there a supplement that helps with circulation,swelling, and cramping? I often get frozen foot from lack of circulation or at time swells. This makes me feel very tight too. So was wondering if there was any supplements to aid. I am thinking that the omegas and magnesium but was wondering any others. Thanks

Maybe B6? B6 deficiency can cause edema.

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...255&q=b6+edema

Magnesium does help with circulation. And it does suppress the pain receptors NMDA ones.

But you know I've posted twice about studies using calcium channel blockers (RX) to minimize RSD.
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9...ubmed_RVDocSum

Nifedipine is Procardia and on RX.

If you had diffuse swelling/edema everywhere, I'd agree with a supplement, other than magnesium or B6 like Cara suggests. But in RSD the effects are local, and an RX drug may be best.
I had good results with P5P form of B6 for carpal tunnel.
Edema also occurs if you are low in thiamine. So trying 300mg of thiamine might help, but I don't think in your case it will.

Other options are local compounded transdermal gels with clonidine, or ketorlac etc in them to reduce the swelling. Some doctors add ketamine to the mix. You would apply this type of
combination of drugs right to the area affected.

Thanks. Yes I just picked up my rx gel called diclofenac sodium gel and other meds just trying to find a combo approach I guess. I will look up the b6,calcium blocker,and thiamine. I don't mind trying supplements just as long as it does not cause problems. Thank you

my gosh mrs D forgive me if im wrong, but isnt swelling of the legs, constipation and other symptoms -actual side effects of calcium channel blockers to begin with. i asked my doctor to put me on them cuz i had tension headaches, and they also help with anxiety disorders/bipolar 2 so i figured she would but she said that they have all these side effects so they weren't realistic .

Not all calcium channel blockers cause the same problems to the same degree. Some people don't get any edema from them.
Verapamil causes the most constipation of those in that family.
Besides, the treatment for RSD is not forever, as I understand it.

RSD is so terrible I think you'd do just about anything legitimate to reverse it.

I took Procardia for a while and also Cardizem, no edema.(for blood pressure)
But Norvasc was terrible in that regard for me.

People react differently to vasodilation. RSD is a locally vasoconstrictive condition, and vasodilators may help it.

The edema, Bruegger, you are having, combining Neurontin with verapamil, may be much more noticeable because of the Neurontin.
Neurontin causes swelling in many patients.

Hi Daniella and All!

In the past, I have had great luck with Vitamin B-6, in the form of pyridoxal 5 phosphate or P-5-P. At the same time, too much B-6 intake has reportedly/allegedly caused peripheral neuropathy for some people. If you try this option, do not overdo your daily total intake of B-6.

Many people take B-6 intake too far, thinking if a little is good, more is better. This can be detrimental to one's health.

I am tempted to suggest dosages to you; however, I am not a physician, nor otherwise licensed/qualified by law to suggest dosages to you. Please consult a physician, pharmacist or other qualifed/licensed professional to be safe.

When taking advice on the uses of, and the dosages of, supplements/vitamins, I'd strongly encourage everyone to consider obtaining this advice from a few excellent/trustworthy sources. I have used vitamins/supplements extensively for over 25 years and have found no one source of information is always the most up-to-date and accurate.

One of the ways to decrease edema, in some cases, is to be sure one has a good balance of protein:carbohydrate intake. Lack of protein, or too many carbs can cause water retention, according to some thories/experiences.

Diclofenac Sodium Gel gets many mixed reviews, like most other options! I'll be interested to see what your experience is with this! Many people, not all, find this formulation to be irritating to their skin. I have spoken at length with a few compounding pharmacists on this topical formulation; their general consensus is the "vehicle" in this formulation tends to be relatively "caustic" to the skin and does not adequately deliver the medication into the area one is hoping to treat.
(Compounding pharmacists tend to use more advanced "vehicle" formulations, ensuring better delivery of the topical medication... or so they claim. This has been my own experience when comparing the efficacy of the diclofenac sodium gel and other compounded formulations. I won't get further into this topic just now. Feel free to conatct me re: my experiences with this.)

Give the diclofenac sodium a good trial to see if it is helpful to you!
(We all have our own individual reactions.)

I hope you find the diclofenac sodium topical helpful!
I also hope other safe measures are helpful to you!
Always stay as "safe" as possible in looking for helpful approaches.

Thanks. I have no idea anymore. I was doing better and then now have been in a horrid flare up. I have heard too much carbs causes edema but not lack of protein that is interesting. I actually feel dehydrated as I have been having some stomach issues. Not sure if it is from my meds or what. Thanks about the gel advice as well.
Bruegger I hope you are feeling better as well.

Hi Daniella,

I am sorry you are in such a flare up!

I'd wanted to mention the fact that I had found the "dosing cards" (or "dosing sheets") enclosed with the topical diclofenac very helpful in not using too much! Many people love these dosing cards as they help so very much with determining just how much gel to us and how often...as well helping with which sites on the body to apply the gel!

Too much and you may suffer more systemic side-effects... too little and you may not get the optimal response for you.

With GI issues, as you know, you don't want to absorb too much diclofenac from the gel. NSAIDs tend to have an affinity for the GI tract cells and often find their way there, no matter the route of administration. The idea with this type of a topical, is to more absorb locally and to not absorb so much systemically.

Please be careful, Daniella, as you sound very tired and I am concerned about just how depleted you may be at this time. You feel you may be dehydrated? I hope you will be able to tolerate getting yourself more hydrated? If not, I hope you will seek medical attention?

Take really good care!


P.S. Daniella, you may already know all about all I have written above. Please don't be offended. I also try to write so readers, in general, will know what we are discussing, as they may not have ever used a topical medication or seen a "dosing card/sheet," etc.

No offense at all. I appreciate it. I have no tried that med yet as I have been increasing my other meds with my pain doc and I don't like to start new at the same time so I am taking my old as needed meds. I am not sure what is going on with my stomach. I usually am constipated but lately again I am having days of diareah but not usually like this. I am drinking so much though. More worries and problems but I have been checked from head to toe. I appreciate all your help. If I can assist you I am here too. Thanks again