Mine started back in 95 when I had a forward impact fall at 35mph. I was out for about 1/2 an hour off and on and couldn't get up off the ground and could not understand why. The Paramedics told my DR that there was paralysis in my right hand and leg. I had severe pain in my right hand immediately. My DR. Said he would not treat me because he didn't think I was really hurting. The pain in my hand was wicked. My rt hand swelled up and turned purple. I was misdiagnosed for 7 days and my wife finally got me to a hospital with an MRI machine and I had a central cord contusion that almost severed the spinal cord. If my DR had sent me for an MRI the first day they would have given me 2 days of steroids before the operation. They had to operate that afternoon. My DR said the MRI was to expensive ?? My insurance would have paid for it.

Now I am an incomplete quad with numerous nerve damages because of that DR I couldn't sue because I didn't believe in it. The steroids would have help minimize the nerve damage to the spinal cord. If I could today [ sue ] I would most assuredly do so, wouldn't bat an eye! My operation and fusion went great, by the way excluding the stenosis [ narrowing ] where the bone spur hit [ c5/c6 ] Murphys Law??

Oh yeah! the RSD. It started in my right hand as I said, wicked crushing pain, my hands peeled 7 times like a snake almost. The hair on my arms turned black and I looked like a bear. My wife took pics. From there over the years since 95 it has gone from my hand to arm to left hand/arm to both feet and now climbing up my calves. It has change from severe crushing to burning pain and occasionally full body hot and cold and shirt soaking sweating. My fingernails are so brittle I have to keep them cut back all the time. They will break off and split down the middle and that kinda lights your bulb.

Stress is your enemy ( you are in a battle ) high emotions are also, avoid fighting and bickering. Research your disease and these RSD friends in here can be most helpful. Many people won't be able to 'SEE" your disease and may be negative, learn to brush it off. It isn't easy but you can do it. Your journey may be long or short and that is exactly what it will be "Your Journey". We are all different and react in many different ways or we would all drive black cars [ Henry Ford ] You have to play the hand dealt to you. We all gamble. We gamble on Doctors, pain clinics, medications, needles, implanted devices, and the list goes on and on. That was/is my journey . I know pain and live with it but now I can live with it better than I did back in 95. May your journey be short and full of Doctors educated in RSD/CRPS. Wishing you the best, you made a good move posting here.