I have RSD in my right leg, hip, & lower back. I hate the days that I have to shave my legs because it causes me a lot of pain and makes me extremely grumpy, especially since I always have hair on my legs again within 24 hrs. I am considering laser hair removal so that I don't have to go through this painful process, has anyone had it done?
View 2 RepliesYes, I successfully cured/healed RSD! It is possible!
I effectively "cured" RSD with holistic treatments. I encourage anyone who suffers with RSD consider the holistic regime I created for myself. You can do it too.
Brief explanation of my RSD journey:
Once, I, too, suffered severe Type II Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy to my right foot and entire right leg up to my hip which presented itself after auto accident injuries stemming from both fractures and a ruptured plantar fascia in my right foot.
I was fortunate I had an early diagnosis (from my Chinese Doctor, who called it "nerve damage" and was first to diagnose RSD. Only because I was "pro-active" and pursued another opinion regarding my symptoms outside the closed box of conventional/allopathic medicine, which was the only treatment medical insurance will pay for.
After my initial nerve damage diagnosis, I brought this vital diagnosis to my allopathic doctors (who actually missed diagnosing it despite my detailed description of the pain and symptoms) who then concurred with my Chinese doctor's diagnosis and for the first time in my life I heard the words Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or RSD.
I refused allopathic treatment of RSD (4-6 "nerve block" treatments were recommended to begin by several MDs, including anesthesiologists, sports medicine doctors and Podiatrists). Why? Intuitively speaking, I considered the nerve block procedures to be far too invasive and risky, and which required general anesthesia (additional risks), the use of a fluoroscope (unhealthy exposure of radiation), injections of cortisone and a long acting local anesthetic marcaine, and worse, the end results were NOT at all promising.
Instead, I committed myself to a more holistic approach toward healing because I trusted the wisdom of the body's ability to heal.
Immediately upon my nerve damage diagnosis, about 6 weeks after the auto accident, I began my daily regime of holistic treatments, which included acupuncture, naprapathy, osteopathy, physical therapy, physical exercise physiotherapy which I did for the next 6 months. (As a precaution, in case I did not gain immediate results from my holistic regime, I did arrange advanced appointments with an anesthesiologist to perform nerve blocks. However, I later canceled these appointments because I began to gain positive results relatively soon after I began my holistic regime to heal RSD.
After the first six months of intense daily regime of holistic treatments, my acute and horrible symptoms slowly began to disappear. Gradually, the dark reddish-brown discoloration of my foot and leg began to fade, the inflammation/swelling slowly began to reduce, and the distorted and abnormal shape of my right leg and foot improved (which my husband likened to a "slab of red meat" that "looked like something hanging in a butcher shop"). The over the top excruciating nerve pain (which was off the charts, not in the 1 to 10 range, when asked I rated it "100+++!") to the slightest touch or even a sheet touching my foot was far too painful to bear, slowly began to dissipate into the 1 to 10 range. The complete loss of normal ambulatory function with my right leg and foot (I required a wheelchair or crutches to hobble around on my left leg) began to slowly improve after much treatment and with my determination to be pain free, to walk, run and dance again, I "pushed through the pain" with the physiotherapy machines and "re-learn" how to walk again. I literally reprogrammed my brain to walk again.
About six months into my holistic regime, I was again able to walk on my right leg and foot without the aid of a cane or crutches. However, each time I flexed my right foot to walk, it was painful, far too painful to walk long distances. I rated it an 8 on the 1 to 10 scale when asked by an anesthesiologist which I deemed completely unacceptable live with the rest of my life.
This anesthesiologist, with whom I had a 6 months post-RSD diagnosis exam (for medical insurance purposes) was the director of the pain clinic at Kaiser Hospital in Sacramento, CA. This anesthesiologist, who would have otherwise performed nerve block treatments on me had I surrendered to them, wrote in my medical records, "patient sought alternative treatments with acupuncture, osteopathy, naprpathy for treatment for RSD and achieved remarkable results..." My Kaiser podiatrist wrote, "patient had miraculous recovery from RSD with holistic treatments..." My Kaiser internist, my private St. Francis Sports Medicine, a medical doctor, my Kaiser physical therapist all wrote similar comments in my medical records which not only validated my intuition to take the risk to explore holistic treatments but provided substantiation that they were effective and beneficial which forced my Farmer's Auto insurance company to eventually pay for my holistic treatments which were all rejected. Two years later I was reimbursed for all my holistic treatment costs.
I want to offer another perspective into the closed, blocked mindset dogma of allopathic medicine and doctors. During my final exam with the anesthesiologist(as previously mentioned), although this doctor was quite expressive about her amazement of my then-recovery with RSD, she still remained stuck in her dogma when we discussed my pain level. She actually told me that I had reached the limitations of any more recovery because I had passed the 6 months window of time for nerve damage. She said, "I am sorry but I am afraid you will have to learn to live with the pain."
This director of Kaiser's Pain Clinic which treats RSD patients continued to reinforce her assessment that I would not improve, that I reached the limits of any possible recovery. She told me how lucky I was, how much better off I am than most of RSD patients who never get better and only worsen, etc., and I assumed she meant that I would waste my time and money if I continued with holistic treatment.
She shook her head when I told her I wanted to continue with acupuncture treatments until I was completely pain free. She may have meant well and didn't want me to have high hopes of recovery and then experience failure, or whatever. This anesthesiologist, who performs nerve block treatments, gave me all the information of what she knew based upon her 20+ years of experiences with RSD patients.
Fortunately, I did NOT accept her prognosis. Instead, I passionately said, "Doctor, I trust the wisdom of the body to heal and I shall continue with acupuncture treatments until I am completely 100% pain-free. I'll be damned if I willing to live with this pain and can't go for long walks, run or dance the rest of my life because a jerk ran a stop sign and plowed into me!"
Her expression spoke volumes. She was a bit astounded by what I said but not one word of encouragement was spoken. There was a long uncomfortable pause between us. Finally, I said, "One day I will return and prove to you that I am pain free and then you can bring in an acupuncturist, a naprapath, and an osteopath into your pain clinic to help RSD patients.
It took another six months of treatment before I was completely pain free and before my right leg matched the color and size of my left leg. My internist/primary doctor was thrilled by my recovery and accredited it primarily to my "positive attitude and determination." Kaiser wasn't interested in accepting my recovery was due to holistic treatments. Instead, it was just considered "miraculous" remission of RSD which, of course, does NOT give any credit to all the beneficial holistic treatments I had.
I am still pain free after 11 years and walk miles daily and go dancing twice every week. I am grateful for all of my holistic doctors, I hope my allopathic doctor learned from my experiences and success with curing RSD.
I wanted to get feedback on sedation , I get procedures every 10 days for the pain I have my doctors so SGBs on one foot then the other for I have RSD in both feet and the surgeon uses versed to sedate me and I now I've built up a tolerance , they use 4 doses where as when I first started I only received 1 dose but now this last procedure I felt no relief so the sedation is not working and it's very painful to do these nerve blocks without sedation so I'm lost as to what to do I'm considering stopping the injections because of this has anyone experienced the sedation not working anymore and if so what did you do?
View 6 RepliesIn pain after botched bunion surgeries by podiatrist, underwent reconstructive surgeries with OS. Still in pain, now was diagnosed by OS with RSD. 3 phase bone scan showed "increased blood flow and soft tissue uptake in the right ankle and foot. There is intense increased uptake in the right first metatarsophalangeal joint likely represent reactive postoperative change and consistent with postsurgical changes and reflex sympathetic dystrophy in the right lower extremely". Pain management said that as I DO NOT have swelling, change in color and temperature, it is not RSD and sent me back to OS, who already told me that there is nothing else he can do surgically. So I have terrible burning and stabbing pain and muscle spasms. I just want to understand if RSD is a nerve pain or is the result of some abnormal process in bones as was indicated in my test?
View 5 RepliesI've had RSD diagnosed since 1987, and the rheumatologist who diagnosed me, made me think back and he actually told me that I've had it since a child. I'm 68.
My question is, has anyone had a problem with their teeth fracturing? I've always had good teeth, but this year 4 fractured and fell apart and out. This evening eating dinner I had another one just fracture up and it was gone.
I have asked my 4th Dr. now, if it was the Suboxone I had been on, he immediately said no, who told you such a thing? I said no-one I was asking you a question! I have bad TMJ, which I think is just another area of RSD.
On Pain Meds, I can keep active and fit, keep my joint mobility. I am a horse trainer, so it is imperative that I had my pain addressed. Well that stopped in Nov. Have not had a pain since then. My new Dr. had RSD himself, in his foot and physio fixed it, so he figures my is all gone. He told me to take a Tylenol 3 or Aspirin. I am getting pretty stove up right now, pain virtually everywhere. And now I have no backup.
I live in BC Canada, and when we moved to the Chilcotin, the Dr.s in the nearest town have gotten together and said they would no longer give narcotic type drugs to anyone, and they would not send any of their patients to specialists, because they gave their patients too many drugs they didn't need. Now does that make sense, they should listen to themselves.
I've had RSD now for 2 years and now my doctors say I have unfortunately developed chronic pain syndrome and its to my understanding it's creating more pain that is feeding on the pain that is a viscous cycle and very hard to break my question is does anyone have CPS on top of RSD for just when I thought this is enough there's more .
View 14 RepliesI am at the end of my rope!!!!!! I have crps following botched surgery almost 5 years ago. I was on percocet for the first 2.5 years until a new pm doc told me it was bad for my liver and changed me to opana - 5 mg, 3 times a day with oxymorphone 5 mg times a day for breakthrough pain. About a yr and a half ago I developed horrible anxiety which has stayed with me since. The doc said maybe the new formulation didn't agree with me but made no changes. I wake up from sleep in the morning screaming and crying, so agitated. The pain docs don't care as long as your pain is under control. the doc added methadone at my last appt to curb the anxiety in the mornings but I'm to scared to take it. I've read it's more addictive than all of them. I don't function anymore, don't leave the house, cry several times a day. Has anyone experienced this? I feel insane and these docs don't seem to care. Last year I went to a psychiatrist and spent the entire year trying every anti-depressant int the book but none worked. They just raised my anxiety. I really think it's these pills.
View 6 RepliesI am interested in anyone who has been diagnosed with RSD if you wouldn't mind sharing your story. How soon after injury you were diagnosed, who diagnosed you and what changes you saw and when. Do you have all symptoms like skin and nail changes and when did this happen ? My dr recons I have it but I'm still not convinced though I do have signs of it and no other explanation as to why I still can't walk five months post ankle break.
View 35 RepliesHas anyone tried laser hair removal?
View 1 RepliesI need to have facial hair removal but have been told that having hemochromatosis, I may be a further risk towards possible skin damage, which could result in skin hypo/hyper-pigmentation.
My Haematologist told me that skin discolouration could occur from having hemochromatosis, which I was aware about (and this is only if your iron levels aren't controlled) but I don't know if by simply having hemochromatosis, destroying the follicles that produce hair, by laser, could result in unsightly skin damage that wouldn't otherwise happen if I didn't have hemochromatosis?
I've asked the hemochromatosis society and Christianos centre (laser clinic) but none of them have come back with any information based on people who have had laser hair removal, more a vague hypothesis on the matter at this stage involving detailed information I'm continuingly absorbing but being lead astray with as it's not an area I'm experienced with enough to gain a constructive enough opinion (biology). I'm transgender so need to have this done soon as poss.
Just wondering if anyone has had any success with laser hair removal as a way of preventing this disease escalating from stage 1? I was just struck by a passing mention in a post by a doctor about antibiotics, and remembered that a few years ago, before my diagnosis, I used to have terrible problems with my upper thigh areas: I put it down to being sensitive to using razors and so invested in laser on that area. Now I don't get bumps there at all, but I do still in my groin and armpits. I would have thought that logically, if there are no hairs, that the area can't get so infected and sore. Laser hair removal is now widely available and relatively inexpensive.
View 1 RepliesI am going ahead with laser hair removal as a result of the ongoing problems i have had with pilonidal sinus and boils. Has anyone tried this and willing to share their experience? I'm not counting too much on it as i've read some people are unresponsive, but hopefully it will go well.
Also will it be a huge problem to have the laser hair removal while i have boils in that area. would they just go over the boils or not be able to use the device where there is a boil? When i get a one, it never tends to burst, it's just red and tender for a couple of weeks so i can never sit down with ease, but it will eventually go down.
I have been feeling really bad about the facial hair that I have. I am a young woman with black hair, and so the hair I have in my moustache area is also black and very noticeable. I do wax it but it always returns, and the waxing also leaves a red and bumpy area. I love the idea of getting laser hair removal. Does this procedure have any side effects?
View 1 RepliesI want to remove my bikini area pubic hair however I'm extremely embarrassed to go as I have large labia minora hanging down and they show while I'm standing and my legs are closed is that normal
View 2 RepliesHere are a couple of tips that can be used to help reduce the pain during laser hair removal.
Tips 1. Apply topical numbing creams
Topical numbing creams may be applied to the area prior to the laser treatment as they will not change the effectiveness of the treatment. Make sure to time the application appropriately as you don’t want it to wear off by the time the laser treatment starts and some may also take a while to kick in. Many numbing creams recommend applying 20 or 30 minutes prior but all creams are different. Be sure to read and follow the directions accordingly. This is by far the most popular method of preventing any laser hair removal pain.
Tips 2. Bring an icepack to a session
Bringing an icepack to a session and holding it on the area for about 5 - 10 minutes prior to the laser treatment can also help numb the area if you do not have any numbing cream.
Tips 3. Select laser type has a cold air attachment
Some hair removal laser types hair removal laser types come with air attachments that blow a stream of cold air directly onto your skin while the laser is in action. This is used to soothe the area and help reduce pain. If your selected laser type has a cold air attachment, a trick is to ask the technician to blow the cold air all over the area for a minute or two prior to the laser treatment to help number the area even more. If the area gets too cold, get them to stop and proceed with the laser treatment immediately.
Tips 4. Ask the technician to experiment with pace
Ask the technician to experiment with pace. Technicians all have their own technique when it comes to using the laser. Some perform in quick bursts, while others use a slow, continuous pace. One technique may feel better on your skin than the next. Determining what pace feels the best for you can help reduce laser hair removal pain.
Tips 5. Avoid during menstruating
For the ladies, try not to schedule your session when you’re premenstrual or menstruating as your hormones may greatly increase your sensitivity to pain.
Tips 6. Drink a gallon of water prior to the treatment
Drink a gallon of water starting about 4 to 6 hours before the treatment. Going without a drink can make you more sensitive to pain, a study has found. Although there is the danger of drinking too much and getting sick, but you will not feel a thing through out my session. It's easy and free.
Tips 7. Avoid coffee and anything else that contains caffeine
Avoid coffee and anything else that contains caffeine the day of your treatment. Caffeine has been said to increase sensitivity.
Tips 8. Ask the technician to stop when the pain becomes intolerable
If the laser hair removal pain becomes intolerable, you can easily ask the technician to stop. They can give you some time to recuperate before you are ready to proceed with the rest of the procedure.
Tips 9. Try to have the hair as short as possible
The length of the hair makes a difference. The longer the hair, the more painful it is going to be. Technicians will advise you to shave the area a day or two prior to your appointment. To avoid more pain, try to have the hair as short as possible, but still visible.
I'd like to get laser hair removal on my armpits, but I've heard several scary stories that this procedure may cause breast cancer because it uses a light form of radiation and because it blocks lymph nodes. Is this true?
View 1 RepliesI am a 42 year old mom of 2 boys. I have been healthy most of my life. In 2011, I noticed some numbness in my left hand and it seemed to be "clumsy". My mom has MS so it scared me. Considering my family history, my family doc sent me to neuro and to have an MRI. The MRI and my exam turned out to be normal. The neuro said it could be my ulnar nerve. 2012, another episode and this time with worst headache ever and blurred vision. Once again I checked out fine. Then in July 2014 while on vacation, I became dizzy and started to stagger. I went to an urgent care and they told me I had vertigo. After that the vertigo/clumsy remained, and I started having myoclonic jerking of my muscles and headache. I was checked by neuro when I got back from vacation. The vertigo went away but muscle jerking remained. Normal exam and bloodwork. August 21, it came back the vertigo/clumsy feeling, headache, my legs being sensitive to touch, and I occasionally repeat things when speaking like my brain can't remember. I went to a recommended neurosurgeon. His exam revealed Babinski reflex, Hoffmann reflex and brisk reflexes. It was symmetrical on both sides He ordered an MRI. I couldn't get in for almost 2 weeks. The waiting is making me crazy.
View 3 Replieswhat did you do when you couldn't access "down below" anymore?
If I don't shave after the hair grows in for a couple of days I tend to be uncomfortable and now annoyed since I can't remove and my husband is too nervous too.
A bit nervous to go to a salon or spa and expose myself, but it may be the only option.
Does anyone know if hair removal is available on nhs for Folliculitis?
Suffered with with this for nearly 3 years and nothing works. Suffer with it on my genital area which is now spreading to my inner thigh. Ive been prescribed washes which don't seem to help and umpteen amounts of antibiotics. Antibiotics help for short while but then just comes back. Sick of this horrible condition which leaves me in a lots of pain as well as intense itching. In process of using pure tea tree oil which seems to have helped on a few of the spots but not on others. Would really like an end to this condition but have been told there is not much else i can do. Doing lots of research online has told me that laser hair removal is very effective for folliculitis but ive also found out it can be quite expensive. I hope one day i will be rid of this condition but until then i guess i will just have to suffer and battle on.
I used bikini line hair removal cream today which indicated that it was okay to use in the shower. I used it only on my upper pubic area and around the bikini line and was careful to remove the cream and then thoroughly rinsed my pubic area. I noticed afterwards the the inner part of my labia minora is very red. It isn't in pain and it doesn't itch but I'm worried that this might lead to an infection. Should I be worried about this?
View 1 RepliesI began seeing bald patches on my head: one rather large one and 2 smaller ones. I also am losing a ton of hair each day. I have been diagnosed with a ferritin level of 8 and an iron level of 28. I am taking 325 mg of iron 3 times a day along with other vitamins. Approximately how long before I see an improvement in hair fallout and regrowth. I am also seeing a dermatologist for corticosteriod injections to help with regrowth in the completely bald spots. I am strongly considering shaving my whole head?
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