RSD/CRPLS

I have been suffering with RSD-Reflex Sympothetic Dystropy (currently called CRPLS) since Aug 2005.  I missed work for 3 months straight and could hardly walk; tears just pouring down my face.  I have been to so many doctors (family doctor, pain management, neuro, joint etc.,) that I have pretty much given up on getting help from a doctor.  When tests are ran and results come back normal what is one to think.  

The pain for me is pretty much in my right lower limb (knee, calf, ankle) - today pain level is a 7 (1-10) with 10 being the highest.  Our team moved offices on Wednesday and we had to move ourselves.  Normally the pain is usually at about a 4 - somewhat tolerable.  My foot/ankle and lower calf is about 2X it's normal size and I have the discolorization (purple) in my foot.  In the evenings I tend to have to take a very warm bath to sooth the pain (seems to help me).  I also find myself very cold in the mornings - bone chill if you will.  I think this is bad circulation.

I have also been diagnosed with PVD-(Peripherial Vascular Disease) AZ Heart Institue - both calfs (claudication).  Currently taking Plavix/Trental for this.  Have been told my heart is good no worry's there at this point.  

I currently have no recommendations for anyone who is suffering this horrible disease (RSD).  I have also been told pretty much from all of the different doctors that I have seen that this is a lifetime disease and will not get any better, could get worse and could spread throughout my entire body; (however, I have learned through the years of pain that it is dependent upon the types of activities that I do as to how much pain I deal with for the next day - week).  I have been diagnosed with vitamin difficiency taking vitamin supplements and haven't really noticed a difference in the pain.  

This is a very hard disease to accept, but, gotta be strong and keep fighting and hopefully they will soon come up with a cure.

Good luck to everyone who is suffering
Rgds,
Ivory




This discussion is related to Re: RSD.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. It seems that you might have leg nerve injury during the surgery so that may have been resulted into RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy). Symptoms of RSD could be intense pain in leg, numbness, altered skin color, swelling and abnormal sensitivity. Treatment of RSD mainly includes steroid & pain killer. In addition, physiotherapy is the essential part of the treatment to improve the movement of the affected leg. I would suggest consulting a neurologist as well in order to reach at probable diagnosis here. Hope this information proves helpful to you.