Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Support Group

Hi peacefrog,

Are you doing any better? I was wondering if this had gone away or lessened. Have you had any blood tests recently? My pcp always tests for Vit.D levels since many of us are now deficient, and I'm so deficient that I have to take prescription Vit. D sometimes and other times I have to take 2,000 units D3 daily. If you think it's related to diet you might want to try taking some D. Anyway, do ask your doctor about this if it hasn't stopped. I hope you're doing better.

gail

Peacefrog did you go to that site I sent you, the medtv.com when you google RSD symptoms because it plainly says spasms are a symptom of RSD. It can be a vitamin defiency but it is most deffinitely a symptom of RSD and I have had them for over 5 years of the 10 years I had RSD. The pain specialist in Chicago even said it was a symptom of RSD.

Cindy

Hello -

Muscle constrictions are a well-known symptom of RSD; the fact that you're experiencing them is not indicative of a new illness, but just more confirmation of your diagnosis of RSD.

There are many muscle relaxants available; the one I use is baclofen. It's not addictive like diazepam (Valium) (another good muscle relaxant); in fact, it has no psychological effects at all. Muscle spasms are one of the symptoms I still experience, and baclofen is great.

Other muscle relaxants commonly prescribed are carisoprodol (Soma) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril). They work well, but each has side effects that may preclude their use in some folks.

The bottom line is that one of these medications should work for you, and it's important that you get these under control. In some cases, like mine, they can progress to Charley-horse-type intensity, with the possibility of even tearing muscle cells, which is not only destructive, but hurts like hell!

Howard

Thanks Cindy for the info on Dystonia....I did find the old posts on twitches and spasms and they were very helpful. Unfortunately this only stratifies my darn diagnosis of CRPS. It seems to present new ugly symptoms to me all the time and I feel really scared about how this diseease progresses. After having my stomach twitch all day yesterday, I've had a real upset stomach....diarrhea and cramps. Is this common? My worst fear is that the RSD is spreading....spreading...spreading. My old pain doc. said that the burning I'm feeling in all of my appendages and head is not spread but central sensitization. What does RSD feel like for people who have full body or internal RSD? I think I'll start a new discussion on this. Thanks again for being there for me, it means the world...peace, love and happiness.....Kelsey

Thanks Craig also. Sharing your experiences has really helped me tremendously. I took a Tizanidine (muscle relaxant) and almost immediately the twitching went away. Many thanks, Kelsey

Hey my name got mentioned,thanks Cindy.Yes I get hand shaking and stomach spasms on and off in a 24/7 scenerio. I watch my diet, eat a lot of fruit,I used to give blood regularly befor I started to take all of these meds and I can get these symptoms at the drop of a hat. They are not from stress and the doctors can't give me an answer. The stomach spasms hurt because they are so intense. My left eye can also start to twitch. When I really get going I then start to stutter and have trouble talking. See article by Dr Bob Van Hilton about CRPS and Dystonia. Like Cindy said It's just another symptom so you are not going mad.

Last week when my pain got to a 9 which is very rare for me, it was truly almost more than I could bear and my left foot where it's the worst started to shake like it was having a spasm, not a regular shake, more of a jerking around. It scared me since I'd never had that before. A couple of years ago my toes were in spasms going under, and my doctor gave me a muscle relaxer and they stopped and never came back until last week. My pain has been extremely high lately, but not extremely high today so I am very grateful for it! Also, while my pain was that high, my stomach tightened and felt like it might be in spasms, I couldn't tell for sure, but the stomach muscles were doing something. Fun!!!

gail

Kelsey you wanted to talk to someone that has full body and internal RSD well except for my lower left leg I have RSD every where else. I believe Rev does too. It is just a matter of learning how to live with it. What you can do and can't do plus what you can eat and what you can't eat.

You have any questions just ask. Cindy