Hi Sheri

Welcome to NT, I am in BC as well.
I found that the first drug that worked to initialy treat the pain was an SSRI antidepressant (nerve pain reliever) called Amitriptyline it initialy cut the huge pain way down, it eventualy made me gain weight so they switched it to Trazadone which I am still on, and I do notice a huge diffrence if I cut back on that med now.

Cource they got me on so many pills its hard to tell whats working now and what isn't, lidocaine infusions are presently helping me gain back some quality of life right now too, I get the infusion put in every 3 weeks and I take it out at home 10 hours later, it helps the sensitivitys to touch and a breaze dosnt hurt so much now either. It is usualy given here when multipal limbs are effected aparently.

Everyone seems to react diffrently to each med and sometimes it feels like musical chairs trying diffrent meds for RSD/CRPS, hmm.. also try epsome salts baths.. the epsome salts contain magnesium and it helps soothe the pain and reduces inflammation too, also start taking vitimin C it also helps reduce a flare up quicker and helps inflammation, its been studied and has proven to lessen the incidence of CRPS by 2/3rds after injurys, so I think it's a best bet to take it no matter how long you have had RSD.

I hope you find some relief soon Sheri, when I remember how bad it was initialy I just cringe, and though for me it's full body now it is better controlled than it has been in three years. I mainly atribute that to the vitimin C and lidocaine as well as reverse cottling therapy.

luck and perserverence goes a long way. (sory to remble)
Sandra.