My husband just found out he has RSD or at least they think it is.He had his leg crushed with artery and nerve damage. He has recovered so to speak from skin graphing and artery replacement, his main problem is nerve pain and swelling.I guess what I'm looking for is some help with helping him cope. He has always been super positive and this is dragging him way down.He had a 2nd nerve block done, does anyone else have relief with this and will he have to have them forever. I feel helpless to help him. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi alexa and welcome to the group!

First I would suggest calling your local Muscular Dystrophy Assc. and ask where is the closest RSD support group is. This in it's self is a relief at first as He will see some of the same symptoms He's having so it's not in His "head". The second part of reality after talking with the group, He'll soon figure out thats there's not much that can be done with RSD if there's no improvement within the first 6 months. Then more depression sets in. Well thats what I went thru any way. Took me about 2 years to work thru the deep depression.

After getting over the "I'm gonna be this way the rest of my life", I then started to find ways to cope with RSD. I crushed my foot so I had to learn to walk (hobble) different. I listened to the Doctors at first and let them immobilize my foot and Thats the worst thing that could of happened. He'll just have to learn what works for him on his own.

Next came learning to deal with the pain. Not much I could do here. I use morphine, Percodan, Percocet and refused nerve blocks as the RSD group didn't seam too help them and there VERY risky. I next had to learn to control my use of the morphine. You would think that if alittle bit helps alot would be better, WRONG. I can say that you can not get addicted to morphine "if your in pain" as I stop using all pain meds once a year for a month to keep my usage down. But thats something He'll have to learn on his own.

Now were to the just suck up and bear out the pain stage. He's going to have to make up his mind to get active again. There's no one that can do that for him. What works for me won't work for him. And this stage takes the longest as I'm still going thru it after 10yrs.

Your feelings are just in tune with what my wife goes thru. I put that woman thru pure He11 before I could learn anything about living with RSD. I still do but I'm now more aware of her feelings and when the hard pain hits, I try to keep my mouth shut. So when he gets really quite, let him work thru it as he's doing what works for me. If he stays that way for weeks at a time then it's time to get professional help.

The RSD support group will also help you as other spouses also attend and you will also learn how to cope with RSD and your husband. I really feel for all spouses!

I realize my post is a big downer but I wish someone would have laid it on the line with me when I first started learning with RSD as I think it would have helped me progress sooner than what I have.

Also watch for Doctors with the "sure fire RSD cure" as I went as far a thinking about having my foot cut off. Lucky I met a few RSD'ers that went this way and found out it would NOT help as the pain is still there afterwards.



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KenS

Thanks for the reply. My husband has been in touch with some people at RSD HOPE which has helped.He is trying to stay active as much as he can. Your lucky (maybe) that you can take morphine, he is allergic to all opoids so he's pretty much down to biting the bullet on bad days.He has a duregestic patch he wears for 3 days,it has been so-so, it only works for about a day and a half.So far no reaction to it but is a low dose.My main concern is his severe depression days, he's normally so optomistic loves life, I don't like seeing him like this and never really know what to say but am just there if he needs to vent.This was a job related accident and he loved the work he did but is now worried he may never be able to return to it, then the depression starts, whats he gonna do with the rest of his life if he can't do it.He can go days without it swelling up and then what seems like for no reason his leg balloons up and not always in the same place and he'd never be able to do his job like that.I can't help but worry about him and I miss his wonderful smile, selfish there for a moment.. I hope all goes well for you and your wife and thank you very much for your reply and time