Dear Karen and Desi,

Thank you so much for your responses. This really helps me understand what is going on here. I have had two doctors in the past month tell me the RSD has "resolved" (neurologist) and "burned itself out" (upper extremity surgeon). Of course this is something I want to hear and believe, yet my body acts to the contrary. I will be okay (not at all back to normal, just not in blinding pain) for a little bit and that is when I think; "oh gosh maybe this nightmare is over". Then, just like you said, five minutes later something or nothing will happen and my arm starts burning, my fingers swell and I can feel the pain right up through my head all on the left side.

I have had an internist tell me RSD never goes away and that I should be on some type of medication to keep the nerves somewhat protected. On the other hand, I had a neurosurgeon tell me to take nothing and let the brain figure out how to heal itself. I have been on a rollercoaster ride for the past twelve months just trying to really sort out what is wrong and how to best "maintain" my nervous system.

I can feel the RSD wanting to spread to my right side. The pain in my ulnar nerve is getting so much worse and my little finger keeps going numb just like it did on my left before the surgeries.

How does this happen to a person? I went in for a simple ulnar nerve release and still one year later I have such serious health problems from this and not even the doctors can agree on what I have let alone a treatment program.

I have to say I have traveled to see a doctor for this in both Chicago and Cleveland and they did not hesistate to diagnose it as CRPS II due to the ulnar nerve entrapment.

Ladies, I can't thank you enough for your input to this post. I thought I was going nuts when out of nowhere my heart will beat wildly or I will start sweating down my left arm only. I really thought I was just developing a general anxiety disorder or something. Yet I never had any of this before that first ulnar nerve surgery and RSD diagnosis.

How do we know what meds are best? Will any of them reset the sympathetic nervous system?

Lisa