Quote:
Originally Posted by sverre054
Hello,
New to this forum and wanted to get some feedback from others with CRPS.
My condition started at 26. I was in the fire fighter academy and two weeks from graduation. After coming down from a roof 30' up, I started to wring out my heavy leather gloves, when I felt a sharp pain in my arm, and my hand seized up and loss function. I was also working full time as a delivery driver, so ended up having to be medically withdrawn from the fire service and work for 3 months.
I went through months of PT and saw many doctors who initially diagnosed me with a crushed median nerve, carpal tunnel, and dystonia. My work forced me back to work, due to threatening me with termination. I was authorized to only do light duty office work. Needless to say after 3 days back, new management forced me back on the road due to staffing issues, and threatened to fire me(which would cause me to lose my insurance). After 2 days the same injury recurred, but worse. I have been out of work since then(3 years). I have had several surgeries, seen 20+ doctors, hundreds of hours of PT and been on over 20 medications.
I have had severe pain, emanating from my hand and shooting up through the elbow. It is in my right hand(I'm right handed of course) and my hand has lost all strength(less then 30 psi). My thumb stays clasped against my hand, and I have a hard time opening any of my fingers. Also had my hair on my hand/ar, fall out, and my skin has become very thin.
After about a year I was officially diagnosed with CRPS, and have been struggling to deal with it since. My pain level has steadily increased over time, and my hand function is worsening. It's very frustrating being in my late 20's, and being so effected by a condition that is hard to diagnose, hard to treat, and not much is known about. I have also been told the condition is somewhat rare in men my age.
Just wanted to see what others use to treat there condition, and if anyone else how has CPRS in the arm/hand has dealt with the loss of function. There's quite a bit more to the story, and I'm sure I could fill in more details, if anyone has questions. Thanks
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Sorry to hear that at your age you will have to deal with this, minus a cure for the rest of your life! As far as meds and doctors, find a local GP and a local Neurologist that will both talk and listen to you and both talk and listen to one another. It took a couple of years after I got sick in 2006 to find the right Doctors. Unfortunately you're about to face a wide range of Dr's, PA, and others that will tell you everything from it's all in your head to you'll be better next year to on Young "Pain Doctor" that told me after a year of Psychotherapy that since they felt I was not "Depressed" there was nothing they could do for me. She said "Well I guess you're one of the unfortunates" and asked me not to come back again, even though I had worked with her office for a YEAR! But I kept pushing and looking and finally found a good Local GP and Neurologist that have followed and stuck by me for years now. Don't give up they, the Medical world is now starting to take CRPS/RSD seriously and that will me studies and hopefully help!