Honestly VividDC, I could swing for your darned muppet of a PT What a thoughtless and unsympathetic idiot to put you under public pressure, force you to do a (discredited) treatment you had already asked not to do, and make your pain spike. If he had any knowledge at all about CRPS he would not have done those three things together. It's so hard to stand up to a medic of any type (white coat syndrome - I was just the same) but with CRPS it's important that you stop anyone whose treatment might cause you serious pain or spread. I'm not surprised you are having a tough time at the moment, but things can and hopefully will calm down for you. Try to think positively - CRPS worsens with stress and anxiety - ironic hey?

I sympathise about the WC when you are trying to get treatment, but in all honesty you are better off without well-meaning but basically useless PT. try to get another PT, but you can find examples of gentle exercises to do online (I use a good one called 'exercises for those confined to bed' from a UK Diabetes site!) - I do them nearly every day and then add walking etc according to how good I feel. Just be sure to use a reliable site and stop any movement that causes you bad pain. The first time you do a new exercise, have someone with you to help support your affected limbs if needed, and advise on your position etc. It can be quite good fun!

No one can tell you what to do to deal with this because we are all different. As a crps sufferer dealing with many medics who have no knowlege of it, you do have to take take control of your own treatment regime and maybe make a plan of things that help you (I find making a plan makes me feel a bit more in control of things, lol). If you can, give yourself an hour a day to do a 'regime' - mine is to do my exercises, try to do a meditation or just sit quietly listening to some calming music, and massage some oil into my leg muscles to help with cramps and blood flow. As time goes on you will alter your plan as you find new things that help or things that are making your pain worse. Then be prepared to be strong when asking your docs for the things you think you should be getting or want to try. It's not easy Just listen to your body and avoid anything that you know will spike your pain.

Regarding the blocks - I've read good and bad things too. Discuss them again with your pain doc before anything is done, and ask them how they make the procedure as safe as they can and minimise the risk of spread. You can tell a lot from their reaction - I had one who didn't take the idea of spread risk seriously at all, and so I never let them anywhere near me! Only you can decide, but remember that spread can happen for all sorts of reasons, or no reason at all, and any kind of invasive procedure when your CRPS is so active is a risk. When I was in the very early days of this my orthopaedic surgeon (who diagnosed me, bless him) said he wouldn't go anywhere near either of my knees (surgery or injections) while my CRPS was active, or there was too much risk of spread. I've applied that idea since, and read a lot that backs it up. CRPS is too horrible to risk making it worse, but then if it is so bad that you are desperate, then any chance of relief might be worth it for you. It's so difficult.

I really feel for you with this. I do hope things settle down for you soon and you can get some good pain relief. Good luck with everything, and keep posting

Bram.