Originally Posted by Mike in Holden

I, too, was diagnosed three months ago. In addition to the x-ray and MRI, I had a bone scan which seemed to confirm the diagnosis. I have already had two spinal injections and am awaiting the third. Sometimes my foot is cold, other times warm. In the morning it almost looks like the other but quite quickly it swells and turns pink but no longer gets bluish-purple. I have purchased a pair of New Balance shoes that are two sizes longer and four sizes wider to accommodate the swelling. I have approximately 4-6 hours a day where I can function reasonably normally, then I have to sit an elevate. More often than not it is stiff at night.

According to the NINDS, CRPS affects women more than men and tends to peak out at age 40; lucky me, I'm a 67-year old male! Go figure. Although the CRPS is affecting my left foot, it was either the spine surgery I had or the two infections I developed a week after surgery. Take your pick.

I was told by the hospital itself that, despite being a university hospital complete with a medical school, they have no one who regularly treats CRPS. I am under the care of my neurosurgeon who admitted that, in 30-odd years of practice, I am the only patient he has had to get CRPS, and the pain specialist. I am on Lyrica, which is an anti-convulsant but is also prescribed for neuropathy. You didn't mention anything other than a cortisone shot. Of the two shots I've had, one was anesthetic while the second was anesthetic and cortisone.

So perhaps those are the differences that perhaps you might investigate; a) a bone scan, b) a prescription for the neuropathy, c) the composition of future injections.

Wish you the best!