Can RSD RESURFACE? - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

DaleZ · 04-01-2009, 09:08 AM

Greeting fellow sufferers,

I will try to make this as short as possible but unfortunately I have to set the stage for my question.
I am a 49 yr old 170 lb healthy male. Gave up the cigarettes and drinking after my injury two yrs ago when fell and crushed my left heel. Had several screws installed along with the titanium plates.
During my recovery my foot developed RSD. This thing got really bad, swelling, pain, color etc..
Once they figured out it was RSD I started a regiment of drugs and lower lumbar injections. After several months the RSD seemed to settle down. The injury on the other hand did not heal properly; they called in a non-union and a mal-union the bone never Re-grew properly and the heel is out of alignment. Arthritis is pretty prevalent in my ankle but I have learned to deal with it and try to live as normal a life as possible. To repair all of this requires more surgery and another year of painful recovery.
I can tell when the RSD flares up in my foot from time to time but for the most part I considerate gone.

OK that’s the back ground. Here is my question. Last month I did some fairly physical work where I had cut up and stacked a lot of firewood. After the first day of doing this the muscles in my arms and hands were extremely sore as if I had just went water skiing for the first time in the summer and the muscles that you haven’t used for a long time become a painful memory for a few days. This is all I figured it was but my problem is it got worst and has yet to recover. My joints shoulder, elbow, wrist and hands are sore to the touch and swollen. I have tried rest for several days and it dose help but just to lift the milk out of the refrigerator or pour a cup of coffee is still PAINFULL!
My wife seems to think it’s the RSD but I thought I was past that and anyways that was in my foot.

Do you think she could be right or has anyone else ever experienced something similar?
Sorry for the long post, thanks in advance for the replies.

Dale

USMelissa · 04-01-2009, 10:25 AM

Hi DaleZ RSD can go into remission for any length of time and it can come back active again. Anything can cause this disease to resurface.

Gaollan · 04-01-2009, 02:03 PM

If you've still had pain and any other symptoms in your foot for the past 2 years, then you were not in remission. Remission is a complete lack of pain or any other symptoms of rsd. Even those who are in remission fully can have it come back at any time due to another injury or even for no reason at all. There is no cure for it and once you have rsd, you have it for life.

It can also appear in another part of the body for no reason or because of the slightest reason, which in your case seems to be cutting and stacking a lot of firewood. Spreading of rsd is quite common. It can spread fast or slow. Everything about this is individual, depending on each person's body and the way it works.

Is the pain just in the joints or also everything in between? It sounds as if you were saying it's in the whole arm and shoulder. You should get to a pain management doctor asap and get blocks done before it has a chance to set in in the upper body. The fact you did well with the blocks before, there's a good chance they would be effective now and possibly put the upper body into full remission.

It's also a really good idea as well to get tests done to rule out something else that could be causing your symptoms, such as an MRI on the spine and shoulders. Whether it's rsd or something else you should go to the doctor as soon as possible just in case it's rsd. The longer you wait the worse it could get. Early treatment is a must in order for treatment to be effective.

Hope this helps you. Sorry to meet you because of rsd, but welcome to the board! :-) Feel free to ask any other questions you might have and also keep us updated on how things go for you.

Hugs,

Karen

popstarrdiva · 04-01-2009, 05:16 PM

Hi and welcome

Karen is right. It doesn't sound like you were in true remission and the problem with RSD is that once you have it you will always have it. Someone once gave me advice saying be careful with the rest of your limbs or body because the smallest thing can make it spread. Mine spread from one leg to the other from acupuncture so it is best to not overdo anything.
I hope this helps!

Michelle94 · 04-02-2009, 06:48 PM

That is so true.. I 've been good for so long. To the point where I went back to work full time.. I just recently switched jobs.. doing the same exact thing.. I work in a day care. but for some reason my RSD has started up all over again.. I just can't figure out why.. Its been about two yrs I was doing so good.. Still taking my neurontin and tylenol with cod.. I started this new job.. I am a mess.. the only thing I can figure out is I have twice the amount of kids.. 13 one yr to 14 months.. Just all the lifting etc.. Its killing me..
And stress of course.. my husband been out of work since december were now at the point our mortgage is behind three months.. Can't pay the bills and I feel the obligation to keep on working through this pain.. It all stinks.. I hate the economy right now..
I live on day at a time.and hope I can get through all of this.. Now on top of all that.. The insurance co stopped paying my bills which means no meds.. I now have to file another pip suit against the insurance co.. What a process.. They been covering my bills since 2002.. why now?
Michelle