Hello welcome back

[Sandel]

Hi there..
I hope you are all having lowpain days.

It does my heart good to see braintalk back.. It left a void in my support structure and I have missed the information stream that we all had.. and gosh darnit I just missed you all.

Gentle hugs,
Sandra

ps.. speaking of hearts mine is acting up some nasty... anyone else having chest problems?
sandra

[Abasaki7]

Hi Sandel!

I too have chest pains off and on... sometimes it's in the upper chest other times it's around the thoracic diaphragm. It's all with out rhyme or reason. Heart rate and respirations are normal. Doc's can only chalk it up to this RSD monster. :confused:

[WellLovedMom]

Welcome back to you both too:D ! I poked around, but never found any site even close to the wealth of information and wide community base here!

As for heart issues, yes, mine has been getting worse and worse. I've had a RESTING heart rate around 120 since my RSD left me permanently disabled (It's since raised up to 140:( ) and my doctor has since put me on heart medication (Inderal). My blood pressure and heart rate is still all over the place and WITH my medication. They seem to fluctuate all over the place throughout the day, with the lower my heart rate goes, the higher my BP and vice-versa, so I hate taking the heart medication. Sure it lowers my heart rate, but it spikes my BP. I do get chest pains (correlates pretty well with my heart rate rising) but they have done numerous tests (including EKG, echocardiogram, stress test, 24 hour halter test), and all tests came back that my heart is perfectly healthy. My pain is a crushing, stabbing pain behind the breastbone and is frequently accompanied with vertigo and the edges of my vision blurring and starting to blackout. I've been to the ER a couple of times, but as they've done testing to verify my heart is safe and healthy, now I just lay down and sleep it off. The pain can be pretty unpleasant, and even rather scary (especially when the advice nurse tells you "hang up NOW and call 911!"

I've been steadily declining in health over the past few months, and now start to feel like I’m going to black out often, and have to lay down most of the day due to overwhelming exhaustion (leaving me housebound, and mostly on bed-rest). Important to note, is that I’ve been under extreme stress most of this year, as I’m fighting my LTD insurance carrier:mad: (SURPRISE! Social Security approved me in 2 months, but my LTD says there isn't enough medical documentation for my disability!) I’ve noticed that when I'm stressed, I frequently have an adrenaline rush, which seems to make all of my symptoms MUCH worse, including my pain (in fact, my pain has triggered adrenaline when I become frustrated about my pain levels worsening). I realize I need to stay calm, but as most everyone here knows, disability is financially ruining, and this month we can’t make the mortgage (we’ve drained the last of our 401Ks, so there is NOTHING left.) Another story for another day…

My BP and heart rates bounce around through the day, and occasionally are at the excellent rates of 103/57 heart rate 78 but throughout the day same day they can and do bounces all over - BP between 174/81 HR 68 and 103/54 HR 132. Kaiser seems to feel that these readings are all just fine. I just have to wonder if my COMPLETE exhaustion, extreme vertigo, light-headedness/fainting is tied in with my wacky heart rates.

My doctor doesn't believe that RSD causes ANY other symptoms than pain (he has admitted that I'm his most extreme case of RSD) so he has slapped on the label of RSD AND Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I'm hoping that I can hear from more of you who may be having heart issues, extreme exhaustion, and vertigo that may be associated with RSD. I'd love to hear if these are typical symptoms, or if they may indicate something else going on.

My pain has spread from my right knee and leg up into both arms, where I have horrid burning sensation and splotchy red patches that are extremely hot to the touch. (My knee skin had never changed, but then I’m a 20+ year RSD sufferer, so I’ve learned to forget as much about my pain as possible.) I am attributing most of my systems to RSD, but maybe the doc is right. Anyway, love to hear from more of you about heart issues and RSD.

(Sorry for the LONG post, guess I was making up for lost posting time!!!) Take care all, and it's really great to see people as they pop up!

Maria

[allen]

Then quickly pulls arm down, and shouts ouch! :eek: Darn stuff has spread to my shoulder, and as Herman Munster would say; Darn! Darn! Darn! Darn!

Last year I took a ride in the ambulance because I thought I was having a heart attack! I wont ever do that again as everyone labeled me a drug addict before we even left the house. Once I saw a doctor he straightened everyone out about the drug addict thing thank god, but couldnt find anything wrong with my heart at all.

He kept me overnight running all the tests above, and all coming back negative for heart problems. Then he decided that the RSD was just trying to take over, or interfere with the nervous system that controls the heart, and the fight or flight system. He gave me some ativan, and it calmed me right down. I mean I felt normal as can be :)

That was the emergency doc, now my doc has been refilling the ativan, but not agreeing with him, and this month delayed the refill until the office visit. She said I had not been complaining of any problems of anxiety attacks, so I must have got over it. Boy was she wrong! They were back, and the med wasnt working as well now, so after a couple of weeks I was back complaining.

She doubled my dose, and that seems to have worked because now my heart isnt jumping out of my chest, and my breathing is normal. I told her I can feel it coming on long before it is a real problem for me, and it is a scary thing. How would she like to add those problems to a list of problems like mine if they were hers. Hopefully she thinks about it.

Warning: Be carefull of PT! They dont know everything, even if they say they have treated RSD patients before. I just did 6 weeks of twice a week, and now have it up in my shoulder. I had to demand they slow the pace, and take out certain excersizes cause they were putting me in bedd for two days at a time, then it was time to go see them again, and they promised it wouldnt hurt at all :rolleyes:

So beware, they dont all know what they are doing, and cant cure everything like they like to think. Hope all the info helps.
With love
Allen

[Howdy Doody]

Hi Sandra,
I am in agreement with all of the above. This SX is the scaryest of all for me it is just the pitts.

One thing I do is monitor my own heart.

Be Well, Roz

[markdoc]

I don't want to scare anyone, but I was having sporadic chest and right shoulder pain. (same side as RSD) Tests showed nothing. I eventually had an MI & was unconsious on the floor for two days (I live alone since wife died) until someone found me. I was out for 7 more days i Pretty serious stuff.
Please be sure your're checked regularly & hae someone check on you daily.

Markdoc

[Diamon Lil]

Hello Markdoc: Glad to see that you are back with us!!

That really was scarey. It is a really good idea for those of us who live alone to have someone call us on a daily basis to make sure we are OK. If you would not have been found when you were you would have become dehydrated or worse. I am relieved that someone found you. Take care.
Regards, Lil