Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

[livingwith]

Back on September 29 ‘07 I fell from a ladder and shattered my calcaneus (heel). Had surgery to repair it (titanium plate and 12 screws). The injury has since healed almost fully according to the docs and MRI’s, however my foot still swells and aches at times. Seems the longer I am on it the more likely it is to hurt. If I don’t use it much the pain is minimal or nonexistent. I have been diagnosed with RSD though I’m skeptical if that diagnosis is correct since the pain I...Read the full article

[savagemama]

Can you get a second opinion, preferably from a pain management specialist? For me, the pain is random AND flares with use or overuse of the area. And there are many degrees of RSD and other nerve and pain disorders. Some people with RSD have non-stop burning. Others the pain comes & goes. Some have obvious problems when you look at the area like blue or purple color, atrophy, increased hair growth. Some dont. So if you do have RSD (and of course we cant say for sure only a doctor can) it may just be in the very early stages, or you only have some of the major symptoms. However I would be sure get second opinions, third opinions, because there's not a whole lot they can do for RSD and if you end up having something that could be treated or cured, you should pursue that first. Good luck with everything and I hope maybe you will heal with time too.

[fadetoblack]

I am scheduled to make my first visit to a pain management specialist next week. Yesterday however I began to have a pain/burning sensation in my hip area of the same leg of the injury .It is also somewhat hypersensitive to touch...seems a little better today. I have had this type of sensation for years come and go in my thighs and buttocks.The episodes usually lasted only a day or two and I attributed it to some form of sciatica. It was just annoying and not anything I was ever overly concerned about, but now that I am aware of RSD, I am wondering if that is what was causing this and I suppose sciatica and RSD are related.
I have been cleared to return to work in a light duty capacity, which may or may not be approved by my employer. I am a mailman so the injury itself was definitely not a good thing and if the RSD cannot be sent into remission I could be looking for a new position. Any other USPS employees out there who have been affected by RSD?

[jesdenm]

I don't have an exact answer for your question, however, I have found some links that help try to explain it. Due to pain and "staying off it" the muscles become weak. When you use them to walk, you are engaging them and it hurts. When you are laying down it doesn't hurt "as much" - but, your muscles are wasting away. I realize it is hard to move, but try to get up and do something even for a short time. That way you are engaging your muscles and not losing them.

http://www.rsdrx.com/rsdpuz4.0/puz_64.htm

http://www.rsdrx.com/rsdpuz4.0/puz_69.htm
"In RSD the condition gets worse with prolonged inactivity or the stress of too much activity."
(Can't win anyway we turn huh?)

Ok, so that's what I have for now. Here is the site that all the above are located:
http://www.rsdrx.com/rsdpuz4.0/001.htm

Hugs,
Christine
http://AfflictedWithRSD.com
http://blog.christineleiendecker.com

[GRACIE-B]

HI,
I HAD THE SAME INJURY IN JULY 07. BUT MY FOOT WAS TURNING ICE COLD EVERY DAY. I WAS SURE I DID NOT HAVE RSD I HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT. AFTER 3 DIFFERENT DOCTORS CONFIRMED AND 3 NERVE BLOCKS LATER, I HAD RADIO FREQUENCY LESIONING DONE IN FEB. WHICH HAS ALMOST RESTORED CIRCULATION. I WENT FROM 7 MOS. ON CRUTCHES TO A CANE AFTER THE PROCEDURE BUT MY FOOT IS STILL STIFF AND HURTS TO PUT WIEGHT ON IT BUT I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BUILD UP THE MUSCLES YET IN CALF OR FOOT. I AM IN PHYSICAL THERAPY 3 TIMES A WEEK AND STILL HOPING TO GET MY LIFE BACK. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND GET CHECKED FOR NERVE DAMAGE.
GRACIE-B

[rphwithrsd]

Mine started out with a weired presentation as well. At first it just hurt a lot and was really swollen. Then, after a few weeks, I started to experience temperature changes from really, really hot to freezing cold. Pins and needles when I walk and extreme pain in my calf (RSD is in my foot). I am waiting to see a pain specialist who can hopefully explain things in more detail. Good luck!

[baduff]

Mine was also in my foot and it was only hurting and extremely swelled in the beginning, when I had ankle surgery the doctors are saying made it worse then besides just when I walked I also had temp changes to sensitivity and pain around the clock. But it is not something that I wish on anyone and Rsd can be misdiagnosed just like we have experienced when they diagnosed RSD as something it was not. I reccommend getting your doctor to run a bone scan thats how my RSD was diagnosed and also have them do a temperature from one foot to the other, this usually helps. But do not think that it is te end if you do have RSD, I was told by two top specialists in my area, that RSD when diagnosed by the first year that some of the beginning treatments work so hang in there and keep writing and checking out all the information out there. I also reccommend two places for information. The RSDA website and also American Hope, they are up on the latest treatments and information dealing with RSD. It is not a forum like this one just loads of useful info , I wish you all the luck.
Barb