ice bad for rsd??? - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

pattihabs · 07-19-2007, 07:22 PM

hi, this is to michelle, just figured i would start new thread. in the beginning of my rsd, i could not tuch anything cold, it hurt like heck. now, anything warm or hot hurts like heck. i get a glass of ice and water and put my hands around it to relieve the burning in my hands. i read on another thread that this is not good. i didn't know that. do you know why it is not good for rsd?? just wondering cause i do it all the time but i don't want to make anything for me worse then it already is. thanks, patti

jodom1979 · 07-19-2007, 10:35 PM

Wow!

thought I was the only one. Ice hurts but heat seems to have a unpleasent effect now too. Makes my knee and ankle turn red and the nerves go psychotic. Just wanted to throw im 2cents in

Jon

mixtinn · 07-20-2007, 05:58 AM

Patti,
I use to use it all the time myself.. Until I saw my RSD dr.. Its a number one no no for RSD.. His words..
It will cause the blood vessels to shrink more and reduse the bloodflow to the extremities increasing the pain.. It can spread RSD to the next stages..
What it does is damage the myelinated neveres. which you can develop sensory loss. It give you the temorary relieft for a couple mins but after a while the pain will come back cause the bloodvessels enlarge again..
Hope this helps.. If you look it up on the computer.. Just type in RSD and Ice and alot will pop up..
TO Jon,
I have the same problem with the heat also.. I try t tolerated it cause it really does help with RSD.. I wish I could use the ice.. When I was working I use to use frozen water bottles in between pts.. It felt so good.. you could actually here the ice starting to melt. (the cracking noice).. Since then I have not used it.. It has made a big differance..
Hope you all have a good day...
Michelle

pattihabs · 07-21-2007, 03:02 PM

thank you michelle for the info. it is something i never thought of. i will not use it any more. i will eat chocolate instead...lol. anyway. i glad i found out now cause i just started doing a week or so ago, mostly because of the hot humid weather. have a great weekend all, patti

jaxobean · 07-22-2007, 08:27 AM

Hey Everyone,
I was in a hospital gaurding a heroin addict when I was injured and the head of the hospital insisted I put ice on my injury ( before I was educated) and it litterally peeled/burnt the skin off of my hand. It killed I kept taking it off and she was like you need to leave it on for the swelling, and I showed her and told her it was killing and she said she was sorry for insisting. Since then anyone who thinks they are coming next to me with ice are on a drug I need to get my hands on...lol Even a cold bottle of water I cannot carry or water from swimming not like I have been but I have to introduce my body slowly. I am jealous because all of you that say shoes, lotions, socks, work. I must say everyday though I am doing more as far as desesitizing (once I knew how to spell that word) I used to be such a good speller- When we were writing reports myself and the other officer's they would all come to me for grammar and spelling and I would end up being the one too write half of the reports and know I am like how do you spell bologna? I am olly 32 not that that it matters it sucks if your 40, 50,60,70, look at the poor teens and children! It breaks my heart... Ok enough about that... Ice no good, no way , no how, if a doc. ever insists wait until they turn around and put it down the back of their pants and book it out of there...Have a great day everyone!!!Nikki