Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Support Group

I know that you guys have heard all about this.. but when does my hair stop falling out? I have major thick hair and it's about half as thick as it was. I don't know how long I have had this, but it's been two years .. maybe it was in remission for a bit.. but it's coming on strong now. Do you have headaches most day with this?? and it was in my pinky but my elbow aches and aches.. is that normal? I have an appointment with vanderbilt pain intervention on may 17.. my bday!! at 8am. i'm pretty excited about it... Do your veins protrude rediculously so???

The rheumatologist told me to up my lyrica and not take my loritabs because I would build up a tolerance to them. i have only taken them about three out of the past seven days.. advice?

Hi figureitout,

I lose hair on and off. When it happens it's handfuls and my hair gets thin like you say. It comes and goes for me. I started taking low dose zoloft and the headaches and spasms in my head have greatly reduced. I take quite a few suppliments which probably helps my hair as well. I'm not sure about your pinky and elbow. I developed a trapped ulnar nerve and had two fingers (the pinky and one next to it) tingle and stay numb for over a year till I had several acupuncture treatments that finally calmed it down.

I'm so glad I decided not to let that doc operate on my ulnar nerve cause that would have been a disaster. If it's your ulnar nerve you can do physical therapy and take some codliver oil suppliments to try to help it. A neurologist will have to do a test on your arm with needles that zap you to check your nerves. If that's what it is. Best of luck on your visit. I hope you get some answers real soon. hugs, Lucky

Post edited by: luckyduck, at: 04/17/2012 10:14 PM

Hi figureitout,

My hair has been falling out, too. My hair is long and when I wash it there is so much hair on the shower drain you would think I would be bald by now, but fortunately I always had very thick hair, so it's not too bad. I also take supplements and even thought this morning about going by the health food store and getting whatever they would recommend for hair falling out, just to try it. My RSD is lower extremity and I honestly having connected it to my hair, but who knows?

I hope you have a nice birthday with an appointment that goes really well. I know that will feel like something of a relief if you can get some answers and help. As far as the Lortabs go, try taking more Lyrica like he said and possibly you won't need them. My concern about you taking them is that if you run out before the next appointment and then are coming off of them and feel even worse, it wouldn't be good. But, since he's told you not to take them he would not want to refill them. I usually always tell anyone to do what their doctor said, and the new pain doctor will NOT want you to have gone against what your old doctor told you. However, if the pain becomes unbearable after you try raising the amount of Lyrica, I might take it as prescribed before if you have enough to get to the next appointment. Pain doctors do NOT want to find out that you have gone against any instructions from any doctor regarding pain medications. So, be careful.

Any medication like Lortab that is an opiate pain medication will eventually over time cause you to build up tolerance to it. It does not happen in a week or two, but I don't know how long you've taken it. I don't think tolerance is your big issue right now anyway, so just be careful. I'm on so many medications that tolerance is absolutely something that is going on, but there's no way for me to avoid it and it's just part of being on a pain medication plan. Good luck to you!

gail

Sorry I forgot to mention headaches and vein problems. Yes and yes. My headaches feel like spasms instead of the headaches I had before. My veins pop out really bad in my feet and sometimes on my hands.

Post edited by: luckyduck, at: 04/18/2012 07:46 AM

My headaches do spasm alot but my veins are so small that they have a hard time drawing blood from me. It once took them 10 times and it was the doctor who finally was able to get it in 1 stick. I also am anemic alot. As far as the hair on my head I have not loss much but everywhere I have CRPS is bald. So no hair on either arms or most of my right leg. I am starting to lose the hair on my left leg and I am terrified it means it is spreading to there also. It is the only part of me that does not hurt. I still a lot because both hips hurt and right leg but if the left leg goes to I am going to have to look into getting a wheelchair.

Cindy