RSD Update

RSD keeps inhabiting our lives and we keeps learning more and more of what we don't want to know. My therapist informed me that my strength in my hand in just a few short weeks had went from a 20 down to a 9 and that the muscles are continuing to atrophy. I can see where my hand in continuing to close this time side to side now. How thankful I am that didn't affect my right hand.

I began to do more research and so many affected with RSD have migraines. How thankful I am that they have found that it is not passed on to our sons through this genetic mutation.

Stellate Ganglion Block

This morning was my first treatment for my RSD. The injection was done in my neck and they gave my just a mild sedation. They informed me that I would have a droppy eye that would last a couple of hours to a couple of days. And if it progressed into something worse to notify them. I still have it and it has been 8 hrs. The doctor told me also that I should see some immediate results in the swelling of my hand and that I would be able to get more movement in my fingers. I have just returned from therapy and my therapist and I have came to the same conclusion that the block isn't working for me. The doctor discussed with Ron and me that I could undergo 5 of these treatments but I don't know if I want to undergo the risk of them as they are injected all the way into the neck back by the spine. And if the first doesn't work why go through the risk and the expense and then have your hopes just gone. So I guess we have about 10 days to decide what to do. In the mean time Josh my therapist is going to look into an AFO to see if we can't find something to keep my hand from closing completely up. Josh is working hard to keep my fingers straight but can't do anything about how far they close. Therapy ends the first part of October and I can't start again until January if there isn't a remission. Will keep you posted. I am hoping that the RSD stays only in the left hand and doesn't spread.
Also I and checking to see if this is inherited as RSDSA send out a report that it can be maternally inherited by a mutated Gene. For my children's sake I sure hope that I am not passing this onto them.

RSD What is that?

Well I learned some new medical lingo this week. My hand hasn't been progressing very well and my therapist call the dr. I received a call back from the surgeon's office today and he informed me that I was going to have to see another specialist as I have RSD. This isn't something the surgeon caused but something your body does because of the surgery. (Should state that not everyone's body does it just a few) You say what? Like in my language please. It is also called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
It is a malfunction of part of the nervous system and the nerves misfire and send pain signals to the brain (wow I do know that part very well). All this because of a surgery? They said it can happen after a surgery, a fall or accident.
Well after reading up on it I don't know if I really want to have this, like I have a choice in the matter. Therapy continues and hopefully I get into see the specialist soon and see what the next step is.

Ron Update

Ron went back to the doctor on June 18th. The doctor did x-ray's and cast was removed. Hurrah! Ron now has a removable brace which makes it much easier for him which he enjoys, now he can take it off to shower and to scratch his arm. Or should I say rub it. It is a little to tender to scratch.
The doctor also is going to start him with therapy. His first day will be June 23rd. I set Ron up at Turning Point in Fairbury where I am going. I am hoping that his therapy will go okay. He still has major swelling just above his wrist to his fingers and doesn't have much side to side movement of his wrist.

Pictures of the Break in the Arm

Here is what Ron's arm looked like before they did surgery, then just after they took off the wrapping and they put the cast on which was about 10 days. He had so much swelling that they had to hold off. The cast will be on only two weeks according to the dr. He is to have an xray to check things out and then cast removal. If all goes well the cast comes off and then his therapy begins. OUCH!

Ron

I got a call from our daughter-in-law Kim telling me to find someone for Kristi and get to the hospital that Ron fell off the roof. Actually he fell from the endwall of a building 16'. He ended up breaking both the bones in his wrist. He went into surgery for both bones being broke and dislocated. The smaller bone was an open fracture. It took a plate and nine screws to fix the larger of the breaks. The fall happened around 9 in the morning and we made it home about 5:30 in the evening.
I think this will be a rough process for him as he won't be able to stay down and recover like most of us will. To see Ron I have to say we were very thankful as he was pretty banged up on his face. His back and chest hurt pretty bad too. But they asured us that everything else was okay. The only xray's taken were of his chest and arm.
Galen called Kim to take him from the scene and she transported him to the hospital in her car. Kim is our family EMT. We are thankful to have one in the family.