Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

[babbs]

My doctor is a wonderful man but doesnt understand RSD very well, is it possible for it to jump? I have it in my right foot and ankle but lately my tailbone area is beginning to feel the same way and it really concerns me

[Bussey]

Hello babbs,

Many sufferers of RSD, unfortunately run into the same problem that you are experiencing now. There are so many Physicians out there, that have no clue, as to how to treat or diagnose RSD. There are some doctors, who only have the best of intentions, however, they are simply not knowledgeable, as it pertains to this condition.

I have read parts of the guidebook, Medifocus Guidebook on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, (RSD). Hopefully, this information will be helpful.

RSD most definitely, " jumps ", or spreads. There are three types, or, patterns, of spread. One type of spread is called, Contiguous spread-the word contiguous means, near, next to, or touching. Therefore, contiguous spread involves the gradual enlargement of the affected area.

Another pattern of spread is, Independent Spread-this means, signs and symptoms are at distant sites, not adjacent to the initial site of the injury.

The third kind, or pattern of spread is, Mirror Image Spread-this means, signs and symptoms appear in the same area on the opposite limb.

Having said all of that, it appears that you are experiencing Independent Spread symptoms. Hopefully, this isn't the case, but if so, apparently, your symptoms are at a distant site, which is not adjacent to the initial site of your injury.

If you have any other questions, feel free to write in to the forum. There are many caring people on this site, and hopefully, someone will try to answer your questions. Keep in mind, the majority of the members of this site, are patients. If you are not satisfied with the care that you are being given by your Physician, I would suggest that you begin to search for a Physician, who is knowledgeable, in the area of diagnosing and treating RSD.

Take care of yourself. I wish you the very best.

Bussey

[babbs]

Thank you for your info. I have wondered about that but wasn't sure

[meglaser]

without a doubt!! i have all over. do not forget you are dealing with you sypathetic nervous system, Who really u nderstans this!! but we do have to keep reminding the docs that we have this demon. Feel better!!

MEG

[miley7]

Hello I also have periods of having pain and burning in the opposite hand and arm. I chalked it up to using the other hand to much. I have pain daily the burning is undescribable. I also have times when a very intens. .e pain shoots from mid forarm to hand and I yell out after a few minutes I am ok again. I was not diagnosed until aboutn 4-6 months after my injury sorry I am very tired and need to lay down for a moment hope to talk to you soon. Miley

[Bussey]

Hello miley7,

I'm very sorry that you are not feeling well. Hopefully, the RSD has not spread to the other limb. If that is the case though, that sounds like mirror image spread. Hopefully, you are experiencing pain in the other limb, because you use it so much, to compensate for not being able to use the limb that is affected by RSD.

Like you, I sometimes experience pain in my left hand, because I am unable to use my right hand, due to the RSD. I know that it isn't RSD in my left hand though, because if I take an aspirin, or motrin for the pain, the pain subsides. Those meds do nothing at all, for the arm that is affected by RSD. Also, it is a different type of pain, entirely. Do you find this to be the case, as it pertains to your pain, in the hand that you use all the time?

I sincerely hope that you are feeling better very soon. Take care of yourself.

Bussey

[miley7]

hello I am up again thanks for responding. the pain in my left hand and arm is just like when I first started having the burning in my right hand. I swear it is the same. I take mso4 60mg tid and 30mg ir prn and still feel it. I was hurt on the job in feb of 2007 and w/c really works on your nerves. I don't go out to much anymore they are video taping me. I do have some good days though and those are the days I think I can do almost anything. I smile alot and actually can injoy being with my daughter. How did you hurt your hand which led to rsd. miley7

[Bussey]

Hi miley7,

I'm really sorry, but it does sound like the RSD may have spread. If possible, can you schedule an appointment to see the Dr. that you were seeing, when you were initially diagnosed with RSD?

My RSD is idiopathic, which means, of unknown cause. I had no precipitating injury, just prior to the onset of my symptoms, and I had no surgeries performed. I woke up on Monday, September 1, 2003, with excruciating pain in my right hand! It was swollen about three times Its normal size, and it was bent and stiff, all for reasons unknown to me! The RSD has spread rapidly, and it is now in my right arm, my chest, my lower back, and my right leg. I would like to be able to connect the onset of my RSD symptoms to a specific incident, but unfortunately, although I have been involved in several accidents, and have been hurt in many different ways, I cannot identify anything that has happened to me, as the precipitating event, that caused the RSD.

Take care. I wish you the best. Write in to let us know, if the RSD has indeed spread, whenever you feel up to it.

Bussey

[reruho]

Babbs and Miley7

You have received some excellent information.

I have read if it is a true spread, you will start having the other RSD sysmptoms beside just pain.

My RSD limb is my left arm, I constantly am aware of any pain in my right arm, which I have been having. I am chalking it up to overuse because of the lack of other symptoms.

My first PM told me that RSD did not spread. I knew he was wrong because my RSD spread from wrist to my upper in the first 3 months. He could not explain that one. My new PM says it is rare and usually the continous spread before any of the other spreads. I don't believe him either. I am convinced it can and does spread more often than they want to acknowledge.

Reta