Hi Chris,

 Like you I have RSD 8 years in my upper extremities, both hands,arms,shoulders and down my spine to T8. A couple of years ago I had to have a knee scoped,since then my legs have also started to burn but nothing like my arms do, this year in Feburary I slightly hyperextended my right knee and it swelled twice its size. I was surprised it swelled at all because it didnt seem like it was a very bad injury at first.The Swelling in my knee and lower leg caused blood clots to form in the leg and then they broke loose and went into both lungs. They called it a doubble pulmonry embolism with beep vien trombosis.

 The other day someone posted the question(does RSD cause other problems) you are another answer to that question..yes, it does! When I was in the hospital with the clot issue they couldnt find a vein good enough in either arm to get in an IV needle and they ended up putting in a shunt in my inside upper arms with the aid of ultra sound to find a good large vien. My arms like yours also change colors and have shrunk to nothing.

 Its surprising what a human body can take, the mental part is the hard part for me and some days I dont think I can take any more, but I always do.....not a lot of choices there but acceptance and endurance.

Frank