Hi Chloeanne,

Nice to meet you! New to the NeuroTalk myself, I am finding folks very supportive and happy to share their experiences with others. So very sorry to hear that you have CRPS. I love your attitude, don't let CRPS keep you down! That is an attitude that will serve you very well! Scared, confused and angry, described me when I was told I had CRPS. Being scared was the worst! It's ok and understandable for you to be scared right now. And one of the best things you have already done is to reach out to people who can help you. No one understands CRPS except another person with CRPS. Folks can be supportive, kind and helpful but because we don't often have visible signs of the condition and symptoms can change on a dime, some have trouble understanding or accepting what this beast is all about. Of course, anything I say here, may in fact never happen for you. And that would be perfectly ok!!

I acquired my CRPS from tendon surgery. My Ortho doc could not get me out of his office fast enough when I mentioned possible CRPS, two weeks post-op. I came to realize that he wasn't the professional I needed nor wanted to have treating my CRPS. I remember saying...He's a surgeon and he does operations, procedures, etc....he doesn't do CRPS.

It is so awesome that you have a good PM doc. That is not the case for many. Was it this Doc who diagnosed you and will continue to see you on an on-going basis?. Has he/she provided you with any information about CRPS and treatment options? It is usually, but not always, the case that a PM doc oversees treatment for CRPS. There may also be other treating members of the person's care team, such as PT, OT, Counselor and Primary Care Provider.

Although folks with CRPS can share similar symptoms, how you and your body react to CRPS and how it is treated for you is strictly an individual thing. That being said, there are treatment options to select from and if caught early, treatments can put a patient into remission or significantly reduce pain. Your CRPS being diagnosed last month is awesome!

Please be careful with the internet (which of course was the first place I went to look for info too) as usually you find worst case scenarios and pictures without the benefit of seeing mild cases. Yes, there are people whose CRPS spreads to other limbs, have limbs that can no longer function and other things you probably saw but for you, that doesn't mean it spreads any further or gets severe enough to warrant pain meds.

Chloeanne, your symptoms are real, they are not in your head! Some folks do see mental health counselors but others don't need to or don't want to. Again, a very personal decision. A saying you will hear about CRPS is "Mental health issues do not cause CRPS. CRPS causes mental health issues." There is a whole bunch of change that comes along with CRPS, some of which you are experiencing already.

Keep your positive, strong attitude!! I am happy to communicate with you further and so many great people here will do the same.

Let the forum help you!

Deb