Wednesday 28 May

I have ben watching videos on the net about RSD/CRPS, it is quite depressing, terrifying in fact, people who have been severely incapacitated for years.  Because the pain is creaping up the arm, I am starting to be quite concerned. My scar is red and shiny, and very sore tonight; had shooting pains all day, tolerable but persistent. Skin very sensitive on scar and around wrist.

I have found this blog (One girl’s journey into CAM) relating somebody’s _successful_experience with acupuncture (CAM being Complementary Alternative Medicine). Have considered acupuncture but has only found two studies where acupuncture has registered positive results with crps; some publications mention the fact that because acupuncture is using needles, these could add more trauma to the already traumatised area so acupuncture could be risky.

I have an appointment with a musculoskeletal specialist next Tuesday so will wait for his advice and see which treatment he will recommend; probably a course of steroids, not too keen on these but we’ll see.

Sunday 25 May

Friday was not a good day, extremely tired; hand needs to be massaged frequently to keep some suppleness and reduce pain. Is stiff and swollen. Could only manage a few exercises.

Saturday: did some gardening, not too bad but clumsy. Burning skin and some shooting pains in wrist, and up to the elbow and shoulder.  Dribbled ball and threw it against wall, threw darts. Fingers swollen and sore.

Sunday: long walk in the morning to Maroubra beach, wore cotton ’sock’ on hand and wrist, can’t stand the wind on skin. Saw dolphins frolicking in the ocean, great view, sunny day, went to the garden in the afternoon and used hand OK.  

Am in quite a lot of pain at night, extreme skin sensitivity (I put the silicon sheet on the scar and this helped a bit) and electric pains in thumb and wrist, elbow and shoulder are better though.  I had to deep massage the palm, fingers and forearm almost continually to get a bit of relief.

Monday 19 May

Scar has been irritated all day, plus shooting pains. Only been able to do a few exercises.

Scar treatment

I put silicon every night on the scar and the results are incredible. I have been doing this for only over a week and the scar has changed from a purple colour, gaping sides and dry pieces of skin to a pinkish closed neat scar.