Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

[puppyloverof2]

Hi ~ I am finished with PT for now anyway & my PM wants me to go to OT ~ Just wondering if anybody with wrist/hand pain has benefited from OT. Just not sure if I want to commit unless it works. Would love to hear any stories, successful or otherwise.
Thanks,
Terri

[Shianne]

Hi, OT helped me with ROM and that is all. It did not help with the pain. Whatever you do, if you are still experiencing severe, on the surface, hypersensitivity do not let them stick your hand/arm in hot corn meal. If they have a whirlpool that works best for heat. I am trying to get back into PT/OT so that I can get a TENS unit. I used one once and it worked but it made me very tired.~shianne

[puppyloverof2]

Hi ~ The hot corn meal treatment hurts my hand just thinking about it as I do still have hyper-sensitivity. I do need to improve my ROM so at least I will be able to hold something in my hand without my fingers locking up or my meds falling through my fingers/palm of hand. I went to PT from August 2008 to the end of May 2009. My PT didn't think he could do any more for me but the PT did help in the long run because I do finger/wrist exercises at home. I will consider the OT. Maybe in the fall. I am tired of going to 2-3 appts. a week right now. I just need a break from it all for a while.

Thank you again and best of luck to you.

Terri

[Bussey]

Hello puppyloverof2,

Before I was diagnosed with RSD, my Primary Physician suggested that I receive occupational therapy, because of the painful and debilitating symptoms that began in my hand. My therapists were great, however, my symptoms progressed at an alarming rate of speed! Unfortunately, the therapists were never able to catch up. I was never given physical therapy, until my symptoms manifested in my right arm and shoulder.

After finally being diagnosed with RSD, I was admitted to a rehabilitation hospital for a month. During my stay, I received occupational therapy for my hand, and physical therapy for my shoulder and leg.

Were you given physical therapy for your hand and wrist? I find that interesting, if that was the case.

Bussey

[reruho]

I received treatment from an OT after I came of the cast for the broken bones in the wrist. It was great and I regained full range of motion and I think I am stronger than before. I have to tell you, I LOVED THE HEATED CORN MEAL. It is called a Fluido box. It was one of the few things that would warm me up when my arm was freezing cold. I had to have the moist heating pads once because the fluido box was down and that was pure torture because of the weight on my arm. I told them I would never do the heating pads again.

My OT session consisted of 20 minutes in the fluido box to warm up the joint, the stretching exercises and work with weights. She gave me the silly puddy to take home to squeeze. I think I went through 3 different colors.

I started with 2 times a week for a month. Then, after I asked if this could be RSD and was farmed out to pain management, the orthopedic surgeon increased OT to 3 times a week for a month. At the end of 2 months, I was was doing so well that she said there was nothing else she could do for me. I had full ROM and strength back.

There is a difference in the focus of PT and OT. I think OT has to do with being able to function and take care of yourself. PT mainly focuses on regaining the use of the muscle or groups of muscles. I remember many of the questions the new patient package asked was about how well I was functioning in my daily life and what I could and could not do.

I remember complaining to the OT about pain in my hand during some of the exercises and she remarked that my injuries were worst than she originally thought. I finally got them to x-ray my hand and they found compression fractures that had healed. She was the one that kept writing "RSD like symptoms" in her evaluations that the doctor obviously wasn't reading.

[Bussey]

Hi Terri,

Shortly after the onset of my symptoms, hypersensitivity was a huge problem for me! Before receiving treatment, my hand was always warmed up with moist heat. That usually took, if I remember correctly, between 15 to 20 minutes. One thing that helped me with the hypersensitivity was cotton balls. I took cotton balls with me, no matter where I went. I would have to rub my hand with them about every 10 minutes or so, because the relief was never long lasting. Sometimes, I would ask a family member to rub my hand with the cotton balls, because the hypersensitivity was unrelenting!

As it is with everything that pertains to RSD, the level of function and range of motion, regained or enhanced by occupational therapy, varies from patient to patient.

Take care.

Bussey

[puppyloverof2]

Hi Reta,

Thank you for sharing that information. That is very encouraging. I absolutely think that I would benefit from the OT. I used the silly putty in PT. I have trouble doing normal daily tasks as I am either in too much pain or I am just too tired. I am on 5lb. restriction and PT told me only to do no more than 30 minutes of
strenuous activity such as gardening, or light cleaning including laundry. It is very difficult to keep your house clean with only 30 minutes of cleaning allowed. Some days I must choose between taking a shower (as it taxes me) and doing the dishes. A couple of times I have over done it cleaning and OMG, I paid for it. A couple of days later everyone of my finger tips felt like the were on fire, I could touch NOTHING. Oh that was a terrible week. Now I won't over do it for anybody. If they want to come over, either my husband will mop the floor and vacuum or it stays the way it is. I used to be a perfectionist and RSD has forced me to lower my standards considerably. So I think after reading this post, I will be a good candidate for OT.

Thank you,
Terri