Lyme and RSD

"RSD is an older term used to describe one form of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Both RSD and CRPS are nerve disorders characterized by chronic severe burning pain, pathological changes in bone and skin, excessive sweating, tissue swelling and extreme sensitivity to touch."

If this is what you are talking about, Lyme causes something very similar and could be misdiagnosed as RSD.

I've never been diagnosed with RSD so I can't say forsure I've had it, but I've had what is described here -although I don't know of any bone changes other than osteopenia - and have healed quite a bit, although I do have more healing to do. I've used a tincture called Avena Sativa (wild oats collected in the "milky" stage) which actually helps to heal nerves, and treats all kinds of nerve issues.

When I first started detoxing, I couldn't hardly stand the feel of my clothes (which I didn't hardly wear) against my skin because it was so painful. Even the sheets on my bed hurt me. It took a while but I was able to desensitize my skin and now I don't have any issues with it.

I found there is a person called Jessica R. Stevens who wrote on her blog that she has both. Best wishes because I don't think we can test for the possibility of these chronic infections. Be careful with treatment. I saw an Ld and may have developed paresthesias and weird skin stuff I'm still dealing with years after tribg 4 antibiotics on a six month treatment.

Girlie,
Often therapy like that will make us hurt more - one of the lovely gifts from Lyme disease that makes no sense. I would say that you should wait until you have healed from Lyme before you worry about it much. It will likely go away with treatment.

For help with the pain until then, have you tried using a heating pad on your shoulder/neck area? If it's the muscles then heat will work. Otherwise you will need to use ice to combat any inflammation in the area that is causing your pain and discomfort.

Thanks Trav:

I was doing physical therapy because I thought I was treating RSD/CRPS...in which case would be necessary.
But, now I am just treating Lyme and see what I'm left with after. I have so many issues that I can't begin to treat them all separately - so I'm concentrating on Lyme and hoping most, if not all will be healed.

Heating pads don't help - my pain is nerve pain, unfortunately. I used ice on it for 6 months, but then stopped. I guess i'll have to try it again. I stopped using it because I read that you can do nerve damage if you ice too much for too long.
I'm thinking maybe just put some damp towels in the fridge, and try cold, but not ice. Maybe gentler on the nerves.

Razzle: I think that's why I stopped using ice. I must have read about it at one point. What about what I suggested - just cold damp cloths on it? Would that be okay?

Again, I'm not sure if i have RSD - there was never any swelling, or skin sensitivity. I just mainly had nerve pain that started in shoulder blade, then went down arm, to hand. It started to get better over a few months, then turned in the other direction and got worse. But, I'm thinking it was Lyme that made it worse, or even the initial symptoms of radiculopathy could have been lyme.
I did get the thin skin on the back of my hand,and a bit sweaty (more clammy, not dripping sweat)...but I read lyme can cause skin changes too.
It's so hard to know what's lyme, and what is something else.

I do know that physical therapy did not help my arm/hand, which if it's RSD, it should have. It actually made it worse.