LL
I don't know the answer and I am in the UK so probably the rules are different here. That said, I have found it easier to be open and honest with everyone I work with about what is happening to me and what drugs I am taking. Why should I be ashamed about it all - it is much simpler if they know what I am taking and how I am doing. Its not like CRPS is embarassing or personal.

I hope for you that you do make it through this and get a remission. It is good that the blocks are helping you but I think you need to be realistic. Even if you do manage to get a remission, it isn't likely to happen fast. Before my CRPS inflicted severe movement disorder on me, I started to see a physiotherapist who told me that he had treated CRPS rehab patients before. He said that normally, in his experience, if patients are dedicated and motivated, it takes about 2 years for the rehab process. You said yourself that you are having to ramp up the opiod drugs because large amounts of Ultram isn't working for you (Ultram is an multi-action opiod which we call Tramadol in the UK). In the UK the other, new opiod drugs you have now been prescribed would be classed as narcotics.

This drug cocktail is all perfectly normal with CRPS so my point really just is that you need to think longer term about the drug and work issue. Your remission may only come (and remain) if you keep taking the drugs. You may not be able to work for a very long time if you are not able/willing to work whilst you are taking a cocktail of the ususal CRPS drugs either including or not including strong opiod painkilling medication.

In the UK, regardless of the job you do, employers are able to refer you to Occupational Health docs, nurses and advisers who advise them on the condition you have and your fitness for work. Whilst they may not tell an employer exactly what drugs you take, they do share and discuss sensitive medical data with other emmployees. There really is no such thing as privacy or confidentiality and we have much, much better privacy laws that you do in the US.

I think you need to step back and make a priority of your PM ahead of the issue of colleagues possibly discussing you. Maybe you aren't medically that interesting for them!!! If you can't get your pain and health under control then you may find that you are going to have even bigger problems about being able to work than just worrying about colleagues discussing you or people looking at you when they do the drug counts.

CRPS undeniably dents your confidence about your ability to do all sorts of things including your job. It has happened to me and it is taking time to get that back but it is coming slowly. Is there a way you could get help to tackle that issue rather than miss out on essential pain medication? Could you confront some of the practical issues about your job and potential restrictions your employer could place on you in a constructive way up-front? Perhaps with your union or your employer?