Is this really RSD?

[jifu]

I was diagnosed with RSD several months ago when I had symptoms in my right arm and hand after having a herniated disc in my neck. The hand symptoms are pretty classic RSD with cold, puffy, painful and purple hand. About 2 months ago I started having leg symptoms and my doc thought that it was the RSD going into my leg. Leg symptoms include skin sensitivity, swelling around my hip, knee and foot, and beginning to have coldness and mild discoloration (redness) around by knee and hip. Also, my achilles tendon has become very tight to the point where I am beginning to have foot drop with my foot starting to turn inward. I also have muscle spasms in my hamstring and quads as well as considerable weakness developing in my thigh and foot with difficulty dorsiflexing my foot. I did not think that RSD was associated with weakness so much and so I am wondering if this is an accurate diagnosis. I did have an MRI of my neck and low back to rule out a central cord compression or herniated disc in the low back. No central stenosis was seen. What is your impression of this? I am currently trying to get a referral to an MD in San Francisco who may be more familiar with RSD than docs where I live. Do you know of any there who specialize in RSD?

[JFC1769]

you story sounds a lot like mine, and yes it does sound like RSD.

If I were you, now knowing what I know after 10 years of this lovely thing we all call RSD, I would make it a point to tyr to contact the Pain Center at Texas Tech Medical Center in Lubac.

I spent thre weeks there in 1998, after servious review and testing, I recieved a dorsal colum stimulator - of which I would not reccomend , but only as a last resort.

presently, life is as normal as can be, my kids are too young to understand why sometimes dad has bad days, my wife doesnt understand, and my mom is my savior.

i am now, and have been for quite some time, full body.  

if there were any one piece of advice I can give anyone, and this is after having lost the use of my right arm AND leg,

YOU MUST KEEP POSITIVE!!!!!  KEEP NEGATIVITY OUT OF YOUR LIFE!!!! RSD THRIVES ON THOSE TWO THINGS.

I am open to talk to any one at all

Best of luck to you, and please, for you and those around you, you must fight the RSD Deamon hard, or it will consume you.  After fighting the s.o.b. for 11 months, first my leg came back, and the tendons in my hand relaxed.  Please dont let it beat you, you beat it!

Love to all RSD friends

[lydz11]

can any one help with information on a recurring spider bite reaction please.

[Sharrie]

Go to international RSD foundation.  It list the top Dr's that treat RSD.   The best  DR's in the World for RSD are listed http://www.rsdfoundation.org/