Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

[livingwith]

Hi my name is Carolyn and I am 45 years old. My story actually begins back in 2004. I work as a youth crisis counsellor in a high risk security unit of a psychiatric hospital. I was attacked and assaulted by a patient there which resulted in injuries to the entire left side of my body. Nothing was broken just badly bruised and traumatized. I was off work for roughly 3 weeks after this at which time I felt able to return to work. 6 months later the pain starts. It intensifies to include my entire...Read the full article

[dar in pa]

Hi,
My name is Darlene and I am 51 years old. I had to respond to your post, as I have been bothered with RSD for close to 20 years. About 20 years ago, I had severe pain in my left leg and foot for about 4 years before anyone diagnosed RSD. I had never heard of RSD, (wish I never had.)I still suffered with pain for another year or 2 and then it just seemed to subside for several years. About 4 years ago it resurfaced in the left leg & foot again causing the same intense burning, throbbing pain I had 20 years ago.. This time it did not subside and has also hit my right leg and my hips. From the waist down, my complete body is shot. Then the osteoarthritis has set in the hips and complete ruined them.
What caused any of this I cannot even tell you. I did not have surgery, car accident or anything that they say may cause the RSD. All I know is that the pain is unbearable. The dystrophy has now set in both legs and has left me needing to use a walker to get around. Some days I even need a wheelchair.
I wish you the best and hope you do not get too crippled up with this disorder. I never would have believed that it would be this debilitating.
I hope this helps you. I have read some other posts of people saying the same thing about there being "remission" at times.
Darlene

[lil irwin]

hey carolyn. my name is david and i am 21 years old. in january 2009 i was in an almost fatal car crash that put me in ICU for a week and in another room for a week. i collapsed both lungs, broke my back in 8 places, broke 15 ribs, broke my scapula, lacerated my spleen and kidneys, and tore off my left ear. and out of all these injuries, RSD has caused me the most pain and discomfort and depression i have ever had. my first symptoms started out as numbness in my right foot up to my about my mid shin. then a few days later i got a tingly feeling in my right foot up to about my mid shin. then after about 3 weeks after my accident, all of a sudden i had the most intense sharp pains in my toes, like someone was stabbing them with a knife. then along with that all my joints in my foot would swell about 3 times the normal size and some of my joints would turn black. and my whole leg from my knee down would turn bright red and feel really hot, but was cold by touch. i then decided to go visit a pain specialist, who was also a nerve specialist. so i got 2 birds with one stone. and the doctor didnt believe me at first that i had all these terrible pains. so he decided to do some type of nerve test where they put these big thick needle things into my legs and then shock me. my doctor then realized that it was more serious than he thought and diagnosed me with RSD. since my test, i have been on 19 different medications and none of them seemed to work. but in mid march all my major pains went away, and no one could explain it. it was just a blessin from god. but at about the end of april my hopes were crushed, cuz now i have the pains back and live with them every minute of every day. i have spoken too many people who have rsd, and the majority of them say the only way they got better was with prayer, and spinal injections. but if u are in my situation, i have no insurance, no money, and am not able to work. but i just thought i would share my story with u and let u know about the great relief other people have had with spinal injections. i hope u get better and god bless.

[Blackey7.709]

Hi, I have not yet been diagnosed, however like you, I have all the symptoms and am just waiting for some doctor to figure it all out and diagnose me with something! A women came to me in the waiting room at the hospital. She had over heard me talking about my symptoms. At the time I was waiting for my second skin biopsy. She told me a little about RSD and she was familer with it since her Aunt was suffering with it. I researched it and found this site. I have printed information off for 2 of my doctors already and one doc has no idea what RSD is and the other thinks he knows so much about it and that I don't have it. My point is, I was convinved it's not what I have the past month or so because out of nowhere my pain seemed to be tolerable. I still had the bruised like skin, the sensitivity to touch, and I have swelling and very tender lumps to go along with it in my right ankle. So for a while as debilitating as it was I could barely walk...then over night I could walk again and I screamed with delight to my husband...now about a month later after taking on a part-time job, I am laid up again. Just like that! I was in the garden one day with my family, having some difficulty walking, my foot seemed to be turning inwards. Concerned I went to the hospital, thinking I may need a splint of some sort to keep it supported or something, but the doctor was annoyed for my visit saying I am just an emergency room doctor there's nothing I can do for you. I don't know whats wrong with your ankle. So he sent me home. The next day I could not touch my foot to the floor, I could not move! The intense burning stabbing pain I had felt a month ago was back! I cried and cried at the disappointment, the discouragement and the fear. I have been laid up for about 3 days now. Had to call my new employer and quit. I was so proud to have a part-time job...since I first began having problems with my foot back in November 2008. I have heard about the RSD going into remisson and I think that why the one doctor who knows about the RSD thinks I don't have it because sometimes I feel okay. He don't understand just how bad the pain is that I get, my husband has to carry me to the washroom because I can't touch my foot to the floor. I did't have any injury prior too though! I hear alot of people talking about their injuries...but I just woke up one morning with a red lump on my ankle. Anyways, I understand what you are feeling...even though i have not been diagnosed yet. I just wanted to tell you that, It is debilitating and depressing, but know that although you feel alone, you are not alone. This forum seems to be great and very supportive of one another. Reach out to who ever you can for support and understanding. I wish you the best and take care.

[Guysgal]

Thank you for your support and experience. I am sorry that you are back in that awful never ending pain. Keep up the hope that this flare up will be short. I have read a few stories where people go in and out of remission. What an awful disease this is. I have no idea what to expect next and not knowing is the scariest thing. I feel as if I am letting people down when I can't perform my usual tasks. I can't imagine not going back to the job I love; but my job is dangerous and i must be 100% "on" physically and mentally when there. I have to wrap my head around this and do some talking to my doctor. I'm glad i found this forum to share with others who understand.
Take care and breathe in the springtime,
Carolyn