Living with RSDThis section is a place to share stories about Living with RSD Below are entries of those who have already shared their stories. We hope that you find their experiences helpful to your own situation. You may also Help others by sharing your story. To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download RSD After Hand Surgery 
February 2009 I had hand surgery to release Dupuytrens Contractor. I woke from the surgery and had two fingers (ring and middle) that were hot and prickly and no feeling. The next week when I had some of the stitches removed, I experienced intense burning in my whole hand which was swollen and the fingers were all swollen and shiny. My therapist immediately recognized these characteristics as RSD and I was put on a dosepak (like steroid) for a week. This did not help at all and I continued to have a swollen hand, intense burning (scalding feeling)and pricklyness. I then started to take 300mgs of Neurotin which made me very sick so they cut the dose in half and slowly my body started to tolerate it. I am now on 1200mg of Neurotin for nerve relief. The therapy has continued and we have made some progress over this three month period. I am still months away from having the range of motion that is the goal of making a full fist. Hard to make a fist with burning pokerlike pain in my palm and two very swollen fingers that do not want to bend. After each session my hand is so sore I can hardly stand it. I continue to rely on Alleve for pain and it helps. The RSD does not like the therapy. After three months the intense burning pain has gone. I received two shots of Cortesone in the top of my hand between the ring and middle fingers to reduce the hand and finger swelling. The hand swelling has been relieved, but the fingers are still swollen. The therapy is coming along slowly and my therapist told me that even after I get my range of motion back does not mean that the chronic pain of RSD will be gone. This is not good news. I am also using a compound cream made by my pharmacist. It was made for the symptoms I have and it contains an anti-inflammatory, Lidocaine, Neurotin and a pain killer. I apply two times a day and it seems to help. I have started to see a physcotherapist for my stress, anxiety and depression I am trying to get a better mental attitude through this horrific experience. I am 71 years old and I have not missed a day of work. I continue to try to find some relief from the chronic pricklyness I have and I wear an edema glove to relieve the pain and reduce the swollen fingers. My RSD seems so mild in comparison to some of the stories I have read - but pain is pain. I am worn out from trying to get through it, but I continue to be hopeful that it will lessen and I will be able to deal with it. If anyone has experienced anything similar, I would be happy to hear from you with suggestions, advice, or support. Thanks for listening.
May 2009
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