Quote:
Originally Posted by AZ-Di
So, It's been over a year now since my surgery & the beginning of
the CRPS/RSD. In the beginning my P.T. (she actually knows a little about RSD) pretty much told me that frequent visits were important because most progress would be in the first 3-6 months. That has pretty much proved true.
Anymore it's all I can do to just keep what little I have gained.
I'm still left with limited motion of my hand & wrist. I've been wondering if it could be a separate issue from the CRPS pain.
Very long story short......The Social Security Dr. I had to see said, "Oh, they really did a number on you Huh". He said he thought a new surgery would fix it,
and I now had only a "touch" of CRPS/RSD, because the swelling is down.
My original ortho. hand surgeon does not think so and will not touch it again. My P.M. does not think so, but leaves that to ortho. Dr.
I've tried to get 2nd opinion & have gotten referrals but can't get another
ortho. Dr. to see me when they find out I've already had surgery by another Dr. in the state of AZ.
I can feel the CRPS spreading to my foot now, but so far there is no dysfunction. I can still walk thru the pain, also very little swelling, just red & blotchy.
Any thoughts on this?
|
Wow.. what a moron "touch of CRPS/RSD" seriously!! grrrrr that is more than maddening.
First I would ask the SS Dr. (who I am sure is biased and not nearly qualified to make such statements) exactly what type of surgery or correction he/she is suggesting to fix your it. Especially based on one visit (assuming you only had one).
Referrals - are you on a PPO plan? If you are on a PPO plan you don't need a referral to seek out the opinion of another specialist.
Do your doctors think you have nerve damage as a result of your surgery? That would be a reason why another doctor would be hesitant to treat you. Most knowledgeable doctors would not suggest re-operating on the original CRPS site especially if you have CRPS II where there is identifiable nerve damage as this will only worsen your symptoms and cause spread. Unless of course the surgery is to stabilize your bone structure (but even then surgery may cause CRPS to worsen) or repair supportive soft tissue ie., tendons, cartilage.
My experience with spread (and I know it is different with everyone) is that only some of the symptoms were present and as time has gone on more and more appeared but slightly less painful than the original CRPS site. Different in that with the original site all the symptoms started at once and have not gone away or reduced in intensity since onset and instead have gotten worse. The spread areas seem to progress (for me) at a much slower pace.
I truly hope you can get another ortho to look at you - have you considered going out of state?
Tessa