I don't know that people who do not have pain can really, truly understand what it's like. I think I don't get tired of them not understanding because I simply don't expect them to. Having worked in healthcare for years and years in hospital settings I can honestly say I had no concept what pain was really like. It didn't matter what my training was, how empathetic I was, how many patients I was around on a daily basis. It didn't matter that I'd had root canals, kidney stones and given birth. Until this nerve injury and CRPS business I STILL didn't get it!

The only people I expect really understand are fellow sufferers. My mother has MS so is sympathetic, my best friend has a badly herniated disc and was laid up for months. I find I excuse everyone else, seeing as for a long time I too was like everyone else and had no idea what this was like. That's why coming here is helpful, people understand. It is really important to have the conversation with your ortho about getting more comfortable until you have a PM doc. It is not a failure to admit this crap hurts. You have identified nerve damage, that's a legitimate as it gets. The pain is not helping you get better, it is slowing down recovery. Don't be stubborn about asking for help with it. I was just frank with my doctor about needing to try something else. Broach it as a short term solution until you have the right specialist. Explain that you need to rehab, they are used to people hitting a wall sometimes. Start with something low end like tramadol if you don't want to ask for the heavies. Don't give up on the pool. A whirlpool is not the same, it's the non-painful gait and standing that you need. Community /senior center? Private club? Y? hospital? What does PT say about where you can go? Sometimes assisted living facilities or retirement communities have them and will let you come in for a nominal fee. Let people know what you're dealing with, ask for help, they may make an exception on access.

Don't give up, the PT eval was a setback but gave the therapist starting point. That means you are moving forward no matter slowly.

Littlepaw