Hi everyone,

I introduced myself at the introductions thread, but here it goes again, in short:

My wife broke her left hand 22 days ago. 2 days ago she was diagnosed with CRPS.

I have been reading non-stop every possible site, but the info is getting repetitive and I still do not have some answers, such as:

- how early is early diagnosis? is 24 days early?
- starting OT "early" helps to prevent crippling, or is crippling inevitable?
- she is already having muscle spasm in her legs and arms. Is that a sign that it is spreading?
- I have heard about stages, but could not find the rank. How many stages and what means each stage?
- What can we do to stop it to spread and evolve?
- Most of the texts refer to pain killing, but the thought of crippling is killing us. Why donīt the texts address objective ways to improve physical condition?

We are still in the hospital. The more I read, the more afraid I am to leave the hospital. I havenīt told her all that I have read so far. One post by an 21 year old British girl in wheel chair that I found here devastated me.

Please, cheer me up with some good news. But please, be as scientific as possible. We are scared enough to hear wild guesses.

Cheers from Brazil,

Flavio