RSD stuff - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

mark1a · 11-29-2001, 12:22 PM

I've been diagnosed with RSD about 6 weeks ago. It seemed to die down since....I actually went in for a nerve block, but since I was not in extreme pain, it was decided not to do it. However, just Tuesday night, that horrible pain was back and kept me up and in tears all night. The next day, after a bunch of vicodin and neurontin, the pain (while sore as well, it wasnt that out and out mind numbing pain) was mostly gone, just sore as hell.

Is this a common pattern? I thought that RSD was a chronic thing (I did go from June-October with constant pain, and periodic outbreaks of sheer hell. But, with me, it seems to flare up for two days or so, then with neurontin and narcotics, come back to a more liveable state.

The part that concerns my wife and I is that this last time, it crossed over and attacked my left foot and leg rather than my right, where it had been.

(Sigh) Having a hard time finding a dr who seems to know anything about this other than it exists.

tripod · 11-30-2001, 11:40 AM

My history with rsd began after foot surgery. My dr recognized it pretty quickly and has treated it agressively with good result. He is a podiatrist and is familiar with the symptoms. Since rsd has a penchant for appearing after foot,ankle,hand or wrist trauma,perhaps a specialist in that area would be more familiar and sympathetic to your plight simply because he sees more patients with it. I think the average GP waits too long before considering an rsd diagnosis and early agressive treatment is key to a lasting remission.

Ken333 · 12-10-2001, 03:42 AM

Well it can and will act the way it wants and thats what makes RSD so hard to deal with. I'm a old timer with 10yrs with RSD.

I guess the best suggestion would be to watch the pain killers as they really don't help if your honest with yourself. Yes I still take MS-contin just to get by but for me it really doesn't knock the pain a whole lot. I have found if I don't take the pain meds on a regular basis and tuff out the small pain times, that I take less pain meds than if I take them on a regular and feel like in some kind of control. Am I? Doubtful

But I also don't like that doped up feeling either.

As far as finding a Doctor, I just started calling Doctors offices and asked if they knew about RSD. That cuts off alot of red tape.

Good luck too you both!

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KenS

gidget · 12-10-2001, 07:53 AM

hey there, newbie here and I just had to reply to this one! I have RSD in my right foot and ankle from an injury. The pain was horrible untill I saw a pain specialist. It was too late for the nerve blocks and I am on ms contin too. I also am a patient at M.D.Anderson cancer center, Houston,Texas. I am in the lymphoma clinic and now suffer extreme bone pain and my spine takes the prize for having the most pain.As far as RSD all you can do is find dr. that understands. Try ortho dr. and a pain clinic is a must.
I take narcotics around the clock for my bone pain and my foot is under control with few breakthroughs of pain and for RSD to lay quiet is a blessing; even the air from celing fan would make me want to scream nothing could touch it but now I wear a shoe! Dont give up someone out there is going to help you too, keep looking and check out a pain clinic. take care