My physical terrorist applied a hydroculator to my arm and wrist before she started working on me because I was in so much pain from the air conditioning. She said I could use heat for the pain. She never told me that before. The orthopedic surgeon didn't either. I wrapped my arm and hand up today so it won't get so cold. I appreciate all the info I get from all of you!!! We are fortunate to have one another. I wish it weren't under these circumstances.

Sorry you didn't know to use heat. My heating pad never gets put away! One of the therapies used on my hand was hot parafin dip - now that feels good - such a nice, deep heat - for quick relief sometimes I let warm water run over it. When I was working and the air-conditioning would blow, I used a little space heater on my desk to blow warm air on my hand and arm. Whatever you can think of is worth a try! - Shelley

I'm so glad you had a better time at therapy than the past visit. With all the info we get from each other I swear we could put the docs out of business!!! LOL
I hope that from now on your visits become more and more bearable. Take care!

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Don't wish upon a star...reach for one!

you are lucky that you can use heat! I have problems with both heat and cold! I swell extensively from both. I love hot bathshowever, pay for them dearly, by my legs getting so hot and swollend for the next 4 hourst I can barely move. Some days though its worth it, I think. My Dr told me that usually people have the cold problem and only a few hot. When first Dx, they didnt belive me until at PT they used the hydro thinga ma giggy, and when my leg came out they saw it swelling and getting redder and redder. they were like, ah ok, guess no heat, then tried ice and did the same thing. that was when they refused to work with me anymore because unless they could get the water at exact body temp I would swell.
Hope have a pain free day or as close as possible

Blessed Be
Deb
RSD Both Legs.

I think it was Dr. Hooshmand (correct me here guys) who said never, ever use ice. So what did I do when I first hurt my foot -- ICE!!! No wonder the bloody thing hurt. Now I love hot baths but I come out looking like something you'd see at Red Lobster but it feels so gooood.... What's so strange is after I get home from work I put my feet up and the bottoms of my feet turn dark purple. Don't know why, they don't really hurt, they itch but boy they sure do change colors -- red blotchy, white blotchy, blueish kind of blotchy and really dark blueish purple kind of. I also get red and white blotches on the inside of my knees. But does it happen in the doctor's office, oh nooooooo..

I have my own parifin hot wax at home, I use about 3-4 times a day. I even put my elbows in it, it is the greatest.

Stickgirl

Yes, I read absolutely NEVER ANY ICE!!

At the local Pharmacy I found these Gel Pak Heating Pads with Velcro that come in different sizes and shapes for different parts of the body...you microwave them for a few seconds and wrap it on...to go!

I simply couldn't live without my paraffin bath! It is the best! I try to use it daily, but it takes 5 hours for for the wax to melt, so that's not always posssible. But that deep heat sensation is so wonderful and relaxing too! I also like to take hot/warm baths and just float my arm to take the pressure off - kind of an anti-gravity sensation!
Heat good! Cold bad!

Heat or cold. I tell you my foot is so sensitive that I can't get anything near it. If someone looks at it wrong I fly off the ceiling. My physical therapy has been around desensitiving my foot. They pour beach sand on it until I overload from the sensation. It is so funny. My little one loves to do it at night. Do any of you feel like that? The sensation will actually go from my foot up to my head and I feel sensations so intensely that I can feel my bangs on my head. I also can feel the fibers of my socks. Walking just sends my body into hyperdrive. I walked on grass the other day, my heart was pumping so fast from all the sensations it took me hours to calm down. Are any of you like this?

LiZ