Hi MsL:

My partner had bier blocks (lidocaine infused into the arm). These were tremendously helpful originally and then became ineffective within 7-8 months. Furthermore, to complicate matters, the IV was being put into the original injury site (we didn't know any better at the time) which we believe caused massive secondary spread.

I am glad you're having such success with IV Lidocaine. I personally haven't seen enough RSD/Lido* studies to prove it's long term efficacy but our short experience with it showed a temporary improvement.

But as they say, RSD Patients are like Jacks in the Box, you never know what you're going to get.

And I don't think you're alone in that feeling of "if something could go wrong, or if i could get the short end of the stick, I usually do" ...that seems common amongst RSD folks.

RSD Sucks.