Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
As I can't sleep and am dreading the drive home AND waiting for room service to open, I was thinking about all the questions we've had in the past couple of months about RSD. I thought I would share a photo.
So recently I was doing end of year cleaning of digital pictures and found this old photo of my foot in an RSD flare. So I figured it would do for this purpose. I can't post it here but anyone who wants to see what ONE version of a flare up looks like can look at my photos in my profile. It was Winter of 2010 I believe, and one of the worst flare-ups I ever had.
Normally the foot has more open spots and the blue/black color spreads much higher, but back then it had settled in oddly at 1st. As my doctor (old doctor) was out of town, he wanted me to send a photo to him. It changed to spread out and was more "mottled" by the 2nd day, and then went away. By the time my doc returned, the foot was pink and norma looking as an RSD foot can be.
It's a WEIRD disease. I don't want anyone thinking this is ONLY what RSD is or that your limb or area has to look like this to be RSD. This is a flare up that happened last year to someone who has had the disease well over a decade. It's just what MY RSD foot looked like at one point.
If anyone can't see the picture and wants to, let me know and I'll figure it out. I wish we could post photos in the threads- would make it easier! ;)
So recently I was doing end of year cleaning of digital pictures and found this old photo of my foot in an RSD flare. So I figured it would do for this purpose. I can't post it here but anyone who wants to see what ONE version of a flare up looks like can look at my photos in my profile. It was Winter of 2010 I believe, and one of the worst flare-ups I ever had.
Normally the foot has more open spots and the blue/black color spreads much higher, but back then it had settled in oddly at 1st. As my doctor (old doctor) was out of town, he wanted me to send a photo to him. It changed to spread out and was more "mottled" by the 2nd day, and then went away. By the time my doc returned, the foot was pink and norma looking as an RSD foot can be.
It's a WEIRD disease. I don't want anyone thinking this is ONLY what RSD is or that your limb or area has to look like this to be RSD. This is a flare up that happened last year to someone who has had the disease well over a decade. It's just what MY RSD foot looked like at one point.
If anyone can't see the picture and wants to, let me know and I'll figure it out. I wish we could post photos in the threads- would make it easier! ;)
Speaking of...your profile is set to private and, therefore; I am unable to view your photo.
Thanks for the share though...I think it helps others really understand illnesses and issues that they are not personally familiar with when they can see what the other is talking about.
HUGS to you
Thanks for sharing as I am sure for those who dont know like me it helps understand what you are going through.
Thanks Manny. I think for some people it's different, but when I get a BAD flare, it is all about the TOP of my foot being colored and/or sweaty. It's not that the hell doesn't get bluish b/c it does and sometimes the entire foot! But when it starts, it starts on top, and is always darker there. The pain is also worse on top- it's a strange thing. I can walk on my foot and do so carefully, but have anyone touch the TOP of it and I freak out. And it makes buying shoes an even bigger pain.
But the icy/burning is worse now than it was when that photo was taken, and the coloring can go bad all the way up toward my knee. I always had & still have terrible muscle spasms there but the RSD pain going there, is, unfortunately, a fairly new event. :(
Maybe after almost 15 years as I approach the anniversary of the accident, the RSD has decided I've gone too long just having it in my foot.
Not oddly, that is where the last injury was the worst. I tripped over a dog kennel and a bookshelf fell on my foot, but went back to bed b/c we all have our priorities & mine was sleep for work. I awoke to see something similar to the photo but much worse as I'd done so much damage (but no broken bone THIS time.)
They were SO certain it was vascular damage and had a vascular surgeon in b/c of the way it looked. But then they couldn't figure it out as the damage cleared but the foot would LOOK fine 1 minute and oddly colored the next. Mottled IS a good word for it and I think it's in the RSD description.
Well, as long as we keep the MI winter mild as it has been, I might make it through w/o too much trouble, if I can find a handicapped parking sticker and if I just don't overdo it.
Anyway, THAT's my RSD flare-up, although lately they've been much worse and reach a lot further up the leg. I'm really hoping the knee isn't involved!
take care massive hugs xxx
I know when the Dr. Mentioned RSD in my medical records that I recently just got and was able to read was because of the red area over by my big toe. and spreading across my foot. That's at least what the records say. I know for me the burning gets so intense that Ice is the only thing to calm mine down and the Gabapentin makes it bearable the rest of the time.
Cathy
Cathy- that always makes me cringe- the idea of ICE on RSD! Proves how different we all are! That pic was from last year- today my RSD flare ups are more spacious, as in moving up the leg. I once saw an RSD patient with blue and purple splotches like a Walt Disney movie. Scary disease.
Hugs...