Re:Molly/Newbie questions

[Guest guest]

Molly,

DEFINATELY DO NOT USE ICE! Ice can make the RSD spread thru out the body faster. Not only that, RSD makes the blood vessels/arteries get smaller, making it hard for the blood and oxygen to go thru them....causing the limb to swell and have color changes.

If you have swelling, burning pain, color changes or just throbbing pain that won't go away....and you ARE NOT a diabetic, try sitting in a HOT bath tub of water (as hot as you can stand it) with 1-1 1/2 cups of Epsom Salt added to it for 20-25 minutes (you shouldn't go any longer than that) but, between the hot water and the epsom salts, they will open the blood vessels and arteries back up so that the blood and oxygen can flow more freely, which will make the pain levels go down a bit for a while. It also helps the swelling.

I also have Fibromyalgia....I've had RSD for 4 years, Fibro for 1....and have found that just about the same stuff helps both things. When the Fibro flares up, I walk around a bit more to keep my legs from stiffening up.

I'm on a few different meds though....

I take Methadone 10mg every 6 hours

Skelaxin (muscle relaxer) 400mg every 6 hours

Restoril 30mg for sleep

Promethazine 25mg for nausea

Symbyax 6mg/25mg...an Antidepressant

Topamax 200mg...an Anti-seizure medication for the Muscle Spasms and burning pain

Having RSD means that it takes us longer to heal than normal. We don't know why yet, but it does. Which means if a normal person gets a cold and it would only take a week to get over it, it would take us 2-3 weeks to get over it instead.

The way I was explained it to, it's like only 70% of our immune system is left to fight germs and stuff, because 30% of the immune system is fighting the RSD. The germs and virus's are sneaking in where the 30% left the opening....and there is no way to avoid it, and so it takes longer to get over everything and takes longer to heal because of it.

Also, if you have any kind of surgery, you have a very good chance that the RSD can spread or come out of remission in that area, whether or not if you have a block before the surgery. Some people get lucky and have no problems, others aren't as lucky.

I had a C-section and the RSD went from my right hip/abdomen straight up into my left shoulder and arm. I told the doctor and Anesthesiologist exactly what was going on while it was happening....they got it all on tape while I was talking about it. But, I had an Epidural and a block at the same time......and it didn't matter.

RSD doesn't have to be in an extremity. I have it in my back and abdomen along with all 4 limbs. I'm now thinking that I might also have it in my left ribs....because I pulled some muscles in my ribs, but am having some major muscle spasms in that area that are the same as the rest of my body. So, I'm just waiting to see whether the ribs heal, or if the pain is there to stay.

The RSD is in both legs, feet, knees, hips, abdomen, back, arms, shoulders, hands, fingers, toes, elbows....everywhere except for my neck and head so far.

Plus Fibromyalgia, Migraines, Cluster headaches, Severe Depression with Suicidal tendicies, Protrusion of the L1-L2 Disc Space, IBS, GERD....3 kids ages 9, 5 and 20 months old, a husband that acts like the kids......

If you have any other questions, or if I missed one, feel free to ask them!

Tonia

-------Original Message-------

Molly Bowling wrote:

Hello all,

I was recently laid up with a bad kidney infection. Unfortunately it seems to have triggered RSD in the thoracic and lumbar areas of my back. My doctor has me using lidocaine patches and percoset (I try to use Ultram during the day so I can think better). If the pain doesn’t improve soon she is going to try blocks.

Upon reflection, this is not the first time I have had symptoms of RSD (though the symptoms are much worse now). Nine years ago I suffered a repetitive strain injury in my thumbs and had terrible pain and sensitivity, and about five years ago my thighs became incredibly sensitive (I couldn’t keep anything in my pockets for a year). Both times I eventually got better. I attributed the sensitivity to fibromyalgia.

So (and I know y’all are tired, so don’t feel like you have to answer all my questions):

1) From reading, it looks like RSD is usually in an extremity. I’m more sensitive all over, but it’s my back that really hurts. I don’t know what to think about this. Does the affected area affect how it can spread?

2) Since I have had flares and remissions before, how likely is it that this episode won’t progress much? I know everyone’s different, but I don’t have the faintest idea what to expect here.

3) Since this is not my first episode, I assume it is likely I will have more. I was thinking of going to medical school, but if this keeps up it seems like a bad idea – I won’t be able to make it through. While it’s not a total disaster, if it’s at all likely I’d like to know so I can concentrate on other things.

4) Is there anything I should absolutely avoid? I read on one page that I should never use ice.

5) This is petty, but I’m enjoying the fast hair and nail growth right now! (I’ve never had long hair in my life, so this is an interesting change.) How long can I expect this to last?

I’m doing OK with this right now. Since I’ve been dealing with a chronic pain condition since I was 20 (nine years) this is pretty much just more of the same. I’ve gotten used to adapting over the years.

I have a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, but I went back to school to take medical school prerequisites. I had to drop biology this semester since I missed so much class with the kidney infection I couldn’t catch up. I suppose that’s one reason I’m not terribly upset – I was in pain already, and I was already retraining so I can just shift my expectations if I need to. I’ve been working as a massage therapist (nationally certified) for the last couple of years, but I don’t think I can go back to that for a while, if ever.

Molly

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