reflex sympathetic dystrophy

steve1

I wonder if anyone on this forum has ever experienced this condition? and offer any advice. I was diagnosed with this 6 months ago. I find it very painful and wonder if anyone can offer any tips to help it?

melbland

Hiya Steve

I have heard of this condition.

Are you getting any assistance from doctors about it? Time is of the essence with RSD suffers, otherwise the problem could become permanent.

I have a couple of clients at work who have suffered accidents and have developed RSD afterwards. Unfortunately, it is a chronic condition that is not always likely to be cured - especially if not caught early enough.

What treatment/support are you being offered? If none is the answer, I suggest you speak with your GP because you should be referred to a specialist (such as pain clinic).

Mel

steve1

melbland wrote:

Hiya Steve

I have heard of this condition.

Are you getting any assistance from doctors about it? Time is of the essence with RSD suffers, otherwise the problem could become permanent.

I have a couple of clients at work who have suffered accidents and have developed RSD afterwards. Unfortunately, it is a chronic condition that is not always likely to be cured - especially if not caught early enough.

What treatment/support are you being offered? If none is the answer, I suggest you speak with your GP because you should be referred to a specialist (such as pain clinic).

Mel

Hi Mel thanks for that am seeing consultant next week..Hopefully he may be able to do something
Regards..Steve

melbland

That's good news - please make sure that you "push" this through. If you do not get appointments - chase them for it because some people who are found late do not get any relief.

Unfortunately, I know two people where their treatment was started late, i.e. a year or so late and they now have permanent problems.

I understand that the condition is one that affects the nerves etc and you may therefore have limitations in the limb that is affected. Unfortunately Hospitals are unlikely to operate on you because of the risk of it developing at a later stage in that area.

You may be offered some injections in the form of nerve blocks (gabapentin I think is one - but don't quote me on that!).

This is something where time is literally of the essence so I do hope that the specialist provides you with some release. Other than that, unfortunately it is a case of "living" with the pain/limitations etc because, like arthritis, it is in (the majority of cases with RSD), incurable.

Good luck with the consultation.

Mel x

steve1

Thanks Mel, appreciate your response. I developed this after surgery on my elbow, and since then it's been horrendous pain. know one seems to take it serious..It's not like a headache when you can take pain releive and it goes away..this is constant and debilitating. It's like the o/a in my hip...why do people noy take us serious? it's behond me.
Regards...Steve..x