Quote:
Originally Posted by MouseE.Ratz
I've heard of it, and had my PM&R talked about it, but from what I was told it only works in the beginning. My PM&R told me a year out that he would not do the injections because they are not a good idea that far into RSD (it had also spread at this point)because they will probably not work, and might actually hurt me.
It might be a different story with each person since everyones pain and spread(if any) is different, but all the doctors I've talked to about it say that it only works within a certian time frame. I know it is also less likely to help after the RSD has spread for some reason. (Hopefully, if you havent had it already, you wont attain a spread, and will have more treatment options available). So, thats my experience with it, hope it helps.  |
That's what I was told too MouseE.Ratz (love the name
). The blocks might be useful if used pretty sharpish in the timescale, but once you are well into the CRPS, and especially if it's spread, it's not such a good idea. My pain specialist was pretty clear last year that it was way too risky for me (mine had already spread at that point).
The major gripe I have with the system is that I missed the sweet spot for treatment (first 6 months) in a confusion of crap doctoring. It was two months before I was diagnosed. Then I spent the next 4+ months being given different meds and being urged to 'give them a chance'. Once you are involved in 'titration' it takes weeks before you can prove that a drug doesn't work, and weeks very quickly turn into months. I feel especially duped because it takes time to learn about CRPS, and I was still trusting the docs around me for info. No one told me that dishing out amitriptyline like smarties and telling me I had to give them time wasn't actually 'aggressively treating' CRPS...
Sorry, that was a bit off-topic. My pain doc (second and way better than the first lol) has said that she understands my frustration with that, and I have every right to feel that things weren't handled well. Nice, but doesn't change anything! I suppose I'm trying to say that you cant necessarily go by what the docs say, just because they might be right - but they might not be, and in the end it's your body and your life to live afterwards.
I suppose everyone is different, and some treatments work well for some and not others. It all depends on how your CRPS is, and whether you feel that taking the risk of a treatment is worth any potential gain.
I really hope that whatever you decide works out well for you!!
What a waffle that was!
Sorry!
Bram.