To exercise or not to exercise!!! - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

dayton · 06-20-2003, 06:14 AM

I'm sitting here at work and my legs are very weak. I mean when I walk I feel like I'm going to fall. I'm up down, up down, all day long at work but when I go home I just crash. I am EXHAUSTED, I mean I don't even want to get off the couch. Come to think of it, I don't even make it to the couch! Some nights, I wash my hair, put on my old robe and just go to bed at 7:00. The neurotin and elavil put me right down. I've heard of rsd causing fatigue but no one has specifically mentioned their legs are weak. Cramps and tingling yep got that too, but the weakness is horrible..... I think the neurotin is helping cause I haven't had the tingly fingers and wrists anymore. Rats, tho, the left foot top is getting squirrely. I hope it's just sympathy pains and not spreading. I have a block on the 23rd. Hubby has been complaining ever since he saw the bills about how
many more of these are you going to have. Seems like it never stops.............
Also what kind of exercise are you doing? I asked my dr. and he said because I was still working full time he thought that might be enough but ya know when I go home I just crash on the sofa I'm so tired. Do you think I should be exercising at home too?

sltanner · 06-20-2003, 09:32 AM

My doctor was suprised by the flexability in my wrist (affected area) as RSD had a tendency make you lose it and inactivity makes it worse. Knowing this, I made a decision that was not going to happen to me and I flex and exercise my wrist & fingers everyday. I have still lost a lot of strength, but I can move. Every day you don't move you lose muscle tissue. Use it or lose it!
#1 - Follow what your doctor says
#2 - If it isn't causing more injury, move to toleration - if it causes a flare up do something else and for not as long. Ask your doctor for specific exercises to meet your needs. Isometric excercises are great for adding muscle tone! - Shelley

Norine · 06-20-2003, 10:42 AM

Hi Dayton,

I'm the one who does the typing for a pain management facility. When the doctor I work for thought I might have RSD, he told me to exercise my foot every hour which I did. I constantly exercised my foot, even while sitting here typing. When I was finally off of the crutches, I would pace the driveway every hour. We have a long driveway : )

I then went to the podiatrist who gave me a posterior tibial nerve block. Since then, I have been on a total road to recovery. This is mainly because I have been exercising my foot every chance I get. The podiatrist now feels that I did not have RSD but, instead, some other kind of nerve problem going on.

Unfortunately, last week while lying in bed, something in my ankle popped and I had excruciating pain. The podiatrist thinks I tore a ligament. She said normally she would cast me but, instead (because of the nerve problems in my foot) provided me with an air cast which is removable. This is allowing me to exercise my foot all of the time.

I notice when I am sitting, my whole leg feels hot, tingly, tired and stiff. To alleviate this, I get up and walk around. I have to or else I will start getting that sensation back in the bottom of my foot which is really uncomfortable.

I feel exercise, to tolerance, is the best medicine. If you are experiencing pain, stop or try a different exercise.

If this was RSD, I feel taking the advice from the doctor I work for really paid off. He is an expert in the field of RSD.

I hope that this goes into remission for you and that everyone on this board will have a cure soon. The scare of possibly having RSD has really opened my eyes to this terrible syndrome and I wish the best for everyone. I'm sure there will be a cure soon.

Norine

Soxy · 06-20-2003, 11:11 AM

Dayton, I don't do any exercises just for my foot but I continue my daily routine. Although I am not working now (not related to RSD) I am up and down 2 flights of stairs in our home many times a day with laundry, various chores etc... I don't use a cane but do have limp. When the pain is too bad or my foot becomes too swollen I slow down for awhile. I know I have to use the foot as much as I can stand or it will atrophy. Hope this info helps.. When I go to PT we do very little with the foot itself. Basically we try to strenghten other areas that are working overtime like my back to compensate for the way I now walk. Whew! Talk about run-on sentences. Take care.
Soxy

------------------
Believe in Miracles!!

scriptor · 06-22-2003, 01:49 PM

hi dayton,
I know what you mean about you legs going weak. Sometimes my legs start to shake and then give out when they are hurting so much. I try to remember to do my exercises but I can NEVER remember! My memory is almost nonexistent and getting worse. I used to be so strong and a runner, but not anymore.

But after reading that everyday that you aren't exercising you are losing muscule, I'm going to put forth an extra effort!!

That's what RSD does. It atropheys your muscules till you have none left. I've always done the PT except when I couldn't walk. But I'm going to do the exercises at home to.