I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in my left arm, what can I do?
373467
Well, since you have the diagnosis, you must have seen a doctor.  They should get you into physical therapy for the arm.  There are protocols for RSD in physical therapy to decrease the pain and sensitivity of the area while keeping and increasing range of motion and muscular strength.\n\nIf therapy does not help, you could go on the medical track and get prescribed drugs for the neurologically mediated pain.  Neurontin is a common drug used for this.  Also, medical doctors would recommend a sympathetic ganglion block.  This involves shooting the origin of the nerves (which is in the neck) with a numbing agent.  Sometimes this stops the symptoms completely, sometimes for just a short period of time, and sometimes not at all.  \n\nOn the natural-based medicine track, you could get evaluated to find any problems with organ functioning to include problems with producing or utilizing hormones and neurotransmitters.  Then recommendations for supplementation to support the nerve tissue and the affected organs could be done.\n\nIn any event, consult with your medical doctor on the medical track and find a Chiropractor who practices natural-based medicine or a Naturopath to go about the natural track.  Good luck.
146334
Alternate heat and cold therapy; take ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen; see your doctor for other options (short course of steroids, muscle relaxants, opiate analgesics, physical therapy).
1064802
This sounds like poor circulation on the left side of your body.  It could even be vindictive of something more serious, just as a brain injury, tumor, or nervious disorder such as muscular distrophy or parkinson's disease.  Don't just sit around and wait for it to go away, because you could have a claught which can be life threatening.  Goto your doctor, and like as soon as you can.  This could be life threatening, or not, don't panic just seek some professional advice.
1165305
Your doctor should have you seeing a physical therapist.  If you don't want to do that see  a chiropractor who does myofascial release technique.  That'll help with the spasms.  Ice the area to reduce swelling.  Anti-inflamatory meds or muscle relaxers to deal with pain and spasms.  If these things don't help see about getting a cortisone injection.  That may help with the swelling.
819962
try alieveor ask your doc for soma,i use soma for my muscle disease..it works well,good luck and hope ya feel better soon
682668
Take note of what you do during the day.  Maybe you're on the computer too long, or you write excessively (if you're left-handed).  Something that puts stress on your left arm for extended periods of time can affect how it feels the next day.  Even sleeping on it can cause such pain.
198299
see a physio therapist - you have nerve impingement by the sound of things.\n\nkeep up with ice - 20 on and 20 off as much as you can on your elbow until you see someone. I have a similar problem from a car accident last August and it is better, but for me every time I raise my hands above my head my hands go numb. Massage has helped too to get the muscle out of spasm - perhaps it would help you too?\n\ngood luck.
841489
You need to do dum bell (unilateral) work for your arms or any other body part if this is happening.DOMS(delayed onset muscle soreness) is a result of microtrauma(not lactic acid that's cleared from the muscle almost immediately).This is tiny tears in individual muscle fibers.If your experiencing more soreness in one biceps group as opposed to the other you're somehow compensating.Doing DB curls will ensure that you can work both equally.Let's say you can do ten reps with your right arm with 50#DBs and eight with your left.Do each one until positive failure without a set number in mind.If you get 8 with your left and ten with your right you'll hit each one with equal intensity.Right handed people are stronger in their right hand for neurological reasons and not by virtue of mass alone.\nDo your DB sets after all of your barbell work.
171238
you could try a heating pad. I just went to see the doctor for the same thing and now I am on a muscle relaxant. He also suggested physiotherapy. I found those new heating patches to be quite effective.
1133281
...among other things...lie on your left side. This will help ease...the pain and pressure. Glad I'm not there! ;)
1029093
The decreased strength in your arm is caused by nerve damage.  Even though it is temporary, it is not good to have it occur repeatedly.  Talk to your physician about treatment - either physical therapy or visiting a chiropractor may help.
490509
Go see your doctor.  He can run tests to diagnose the cause of the pain and then make appropriate recommendations.  He can prescribe pain meds and/or muscle relaxers if needed.  Also, he may recommend physical therapy, chiropractic care, or massage therapy as options to improve your condition.\n\nThe type of pain you have will dictate treatment.  Is is a muscle spasm?  You may want to try hot pack.  Is it sharp, shooting pain?  Stick with the ice.  Is there numbnesss or tingling involved?  This may be due to a nerve problem.\n\nWhat time of day is your pain worst?  In the AM would indicate chemical changes in your body (arthritis, inflammation).  In the PM would indicate your pain is mechanical in nature - meaning your posture or body mechanics (think office ergonomics!) could be the problem.
1077940
you may have raynounds syndrome,which your nerves usaully in hands or feet ,but can move to the whole body if it worsens,what happens is the nerves for unknown reasons start restricting blood flow in the vains causeing not enough blood flow to hands and making them cold,then there is also a secound type thats the reverse the nerves cause the blood vessels to get bigger and then your hands can start getting to much blood flow and feel fiery hot.there is no cure for this but there are medicences and herbs that can help,and one other new thing just recently invented that might get rid of the syndome once and for all is doctors think they might have found the main nerve that causes this to happen located in the rists and can possibly be sergically removed.so if i were you i'd talk to a doctor about it and see if he thinks it is rynounds syndrome and then mabey he can give you the medince to help and explain more about the possible sergery.also if the syndrome gets worse what will eventually happen is it could start to move to other parts of the body too,and after a while it can get so bad that basically you would be in danger of your body giving it self frostbite litterally.so look into it and see if thats what it is,but if hopefully it isnt that then mabey it can possibly be realated to just stress ?.also one last thing that is a sign that its raynounds is if you hold something cold or out in the cold for some amount of time usaully your hands ect.would start to feel major ice cold that seems to hurt from the inner-core of your bones outward.makeing you need to cover them up or put what-ever cold thing down.
1106859
It could be that your bicep is very tired from whatever you or doing. Also there could be some slight nerve damage. As far as stopping the spasms, just try not to use that whole arm area a lot.
1028577
Not a cure, but seems to helps symptoms by laying on the left side..also taking a natural tablet of papaya (found in vitamin stores/pharmacies) these helped me a lot and they are natural
885200
This could actually be referred pain.Pain resulting from an underlying cause elsewhere.\nBest things to do to try to alleviate these pains(after a brief but thorough warm up) are neck rolling front to back and reverse,clasp something up high and gently and slowly support your own weight while stretching your back.Exhale slightly every time you stretch a little more.Straddle stretch while turning one side then the other reaching for your toes with the opposite hand.Sit on the floor with your legs spread,slowly lean forward then to either side.NEVER bounce when you stretch as this activates the myotatic reflex and can tighten the tear the muscle.\nTry taking hot baths and ibuprofen(not Tylenol) as an anti inflammatory.
267414
It sounds like you have a strain, with some minor inflamation, which is putting pressure on the nerve.\n\nAcupuncture is especially effective in this type of situation. If you don't want to seek outside care, you\ncould try acupressure and massage, at home.  \n\nOf course, if there is still swelling you should ice your hand.  Whether there's swelling or not, soaking your hand in warm water and epsom salts will help.  Especially in conjunction with massage afterward. Massage up the tendon line from the affected finger tip.  And, do make sure to include the wrist and forearm if you feel that the stress-line runs up into your arm.  Good luck!\n\nGood luck!