I have carpal tunnel that has never quite healed. Surgery was in 2001 on my R wrist. I later developed pain in L wrist. DRs cannot figure out why I still have pain and have tried nerve blocks but they only worked short time. I looked up RSD on a web site and I think its possible I might have it. Right now one DR thinks its all in my head.All the rest of my DRs believe me about the pain I'm in. How does one get tested for it? Right now using tens unit,4 different antidepressants and pain pills. Is this something I should bring up to my DR? Could use some advice if there is any out there. Since its gotten cold here my hands have really started hurting worse. Or is this all in my head? Sorry I went on for so long.

hi! I have RSD I got it from a wrist fracture 2 years ago. Is your carpal work related?. It took the dr's 6 months to diagnose my RSD. I was still in terrible pain after my cast came off and it never went away. MY dr did a mri that showed swelling and a bone scan showed increased uptake in my RSD arm.To my knowledge there is really no test to diagnose RSD. Scans don't always show that there is a problom when there really is..
I also had the blocks and they did not last to long .When the weather is cold it makes my hand and whole arm throb. My hand and arm will also turn ice cold for no reason. the pain is very awfull it is hard to make people understand, there were times when I thought it was all in my head. somtimes evem my skin will hurt just to touch it. Not everyone has the same symtoms, look on the internet and educate yourself as much as you can on RSD. RSd has changed my life I will never be able to do the things I use to do . It is a very nasty disorder that is very painfull. Don't give up if you feel that you do have rsd you need treatment. .
If you want to write to me feel free to. I hope this was some help.

Yes my hands will go ice cold too. Like when I'm on the computer. Pain is sometimes enough to drive you crazy. Nothing shows on x-ray. Blood tests all normal. Yes this is Work Comp. Unfortunatly one of their Independent Med Exam DRs thinks its all in my head. Now they want to send me for "psych" exam. No pain in wrists. You are pain in butt. No pain in head. I've looked up quite a bit on RSD but couldn't seem to find if there was a test for it or not. Thank you for answering me.

My case is also workman comp. It has been a long ride with this. The insurance company does not like to hear the word RSD. It is a very exspensive disorder to treat. There is no cure. I have had alot of treatments for this and none have helped except the spinal cord stimulator which I had to have removed due to infection. My biggest fear is that someday I will loose the use of my arm because of this disorder.

The comp insurance dr. is being paid to say that nothing is wrong with you that is why they work for the compensation system.Somtimes you can get a honest ime dr. that will agree with your dr. but that is very rare. There really is no test to show that you have RSd somtimes it will show up on a bone scan but most of the time it wont.most dr's will go on the symtoms that you have .Before my scans my dr. always noticed how cold my bad arm was compared to the other arm. Also I had swelling and my arm would get a purplish rash.If a block does work even for a couple hours that usually means the pain is sympatheticly maintained. That is what gave my dr. a idea that this is what it was. rSd effects the sympathetic nervous system.

I hope you can find a dr. that believes in you. Whatever you do not give up the fight. Don't let the RSd or the comp system take control over you ,they will try to wear you down mentally and physically. Keep fighting this is your life not theirs and you are the one that has to live with this.

Take care Cattys

Unfortunately my having to play the game with them is now going to lead me on a trip to Oregon where I get to meet with some other IME DRs who will see if this is all in my head. Also on a fight for reemployment benefits for retraining. So tired of all the fighting but have hopefully found lawyer who might help me with all of this. Will know more about that hopefully before end of week.

I see my pain DR on Mon. Just not sure how to approach her with this possibility of RSD. Also Work Comp people been putting me through hoops lately am seeing lawyer tomorrow I hope. I think they are trying to get out of paying my DR bills. So we will have to see how it goes. My depression from all of this pain is getting better. I've come to accept that I may have to live the rest of my life with this. Doesn't make it right but what else is there to do. I've been able to find quite a few sites for RSD so I'm semi prepared if thats what it is that I've got. Will post more after I see DR on Mon. Thanks to all who have wrote to me.

It makes me so mad when the BWC plays with a persons health like this. I speak from experience because my dear husband has RSD resulting from a back surgery that was work related in 1988. It took the drs. until 1995 when his arm locked up in spasms to figure out what it was! The blocks helped for about 6 hours the first time, then no good. There is a test called a thermography(sp) that measures the colder areas in your body, where the blood flow isn't right. My husband and I went to FL in 1997, paid for by the BWC and this test showed he had it throughout most of his body, even his brain! He has lost the use of one arm and both legs. BWC boughthim an electric wheelchair and made home modifications due to the fact we have stairs. Now, Idont want to scare anyone, for it is rare for RSD to spread full body. What I want to get across, is there are tests and don't let the BWC try to wear you down. I used to be a timid person, but not anymore. RSD is devastating to the whole family. Keep on fightng, get a good lawyer that knows about RSD and you will win the fight. They try to wear you down mentally. It's bull! So keep on fighting for your rights.

Good luck and God bless
DW