Hi Mom in Pain,

It's me, Loretta, been thinking of you a lot since I saw your post last night and just responded briefly, it was so late.Your surgeon is a jerk. He knows you have RSD from surgery he preformed. My daughter is a court reporter. She has done depositions on patients that got RSD following surgery. The surgeon failed to inform the patient of the risk of RSD from the procedure. Omission of facts has the same results as Comission of a surgical error.

I'm sorry you can't get HBOT right now. I see my Dr. once a month and he is building two clinics right now and each of them will have hospital grad HBO chambers in them. They will be the only ones outside of hospitals in Arizona. He is a neurologist, psychiatrist, and pharmacologist. He also teaches on the west coast. From New York, medical history at Cornell. I've been seeing him for 4-5 years now and didn't know when I actually got RSD till I was seeing him. The chambers won't be installed for another month or so. I'm anxious to get started with this treatment. I called Diana A and talked to her and was very encouraged.

Does your attorney feel there is neglience by your surgeon? I did not sue my surgeon, I held him responsible in my opinion, but didn't know what was wrong with me. My mother did die from a Dr's neglience. We initiated a lawsuit after discovering he misdiagnosed her and she would die from colon cancer in a few months. We went outside our city to a much larger city with medical malpractice attorneys. They video taped her deposition before her death. At trial, it was shown and my dad won a very large settlement and 100% medical expenses. She was only 46. I had the privilege of caring for her. She went thru 3 operations, medical Drs. gave up, went to mexico, no help, Went to cancer hospital half way across the country, had 3rd surgery there. We did not have medical insurance. I'm not suggesting litigation, but for some they feel impelled or a need to recoup medical costs, loss of income etc. Many RSD patients never work again. I know I'm not able to work anymore. My daughter just moved back from Chicago and back to her firm she has worked for for 8 years. The Chicago firm is very large and prominent.

I have had two remissions. My RSD started the day following a breast biopsy, actually two benign tumors, one deep in breast and one in arm pit. My arm swelled tremendously. My Dr. had gone on vacation the day following the procedure , so I saw his partner and he withdrew a lot of fluid. Same thing happened a couple more times. Started have shooting pains thru my back, then my left shoulder froze up. My Dr. returned from vacation and said, well looks like you have frozen shoulder, you'll need a couple physical treatments, referred me to rehab. specialist. Sent to physical therapists. After 50 treatments, they wanted me to see orthopedic surgeon and he wanted to operate. I had been receiving massage therapy just prior to p.t. on my dime. I said no to surgery and would keep with p.t. the rehab Dr. said it was the worst case she had seen. So had another 50 treatments and massage therapy. I was in remission (Didn't know I had RSD) Now I'm really glad I didn't have surgery. After several months, maybe a year or more my right shoulder started freezing up. We had moved in the meantime and before we moved the p.t.'s told me my good shoulder might freeze up. That didn't make sense to me. No one had mentioned RSD. Anyway, I found a pt. in new state and had a few treatments and went into remission again. Maybe another year or more I was water skiing and felt my left hand pull nerves and pain and immediate swelling. Dr. diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis, but didn't show up RA in the blood work. My hand froze up solid, all fingers straight and wouldn't bend. Flew back to original state to sports injury group of orthopedic surgeons. I had been to the knee Doc once before. Saw the hand Doc this time, and he said RSD within a minute of looking at me. Had hand tests at hospital to confirm. He started me on pt next day and order a tens unit. Came back to Arizona and found a neurologist confirmed RSD and saw hand ortho. and he supervised p.t. Didn't get full use of fingers back, but was desensitized and could use fingers again, they bend like a claw. But I'm grateful I can type, cut my own food again, and use hand partially. About a year later it spread to other hand, then feet and legs. back neck, saw a new neurologist and said he was full body or generalized. I found my present Dr. because I really need help emotionally, mentally dealing with loss of my previous life, and he managed my pain. I had spasms, electric jolts, jerks, dailey and nightly until this Dr. got me on proper meds. No more spasms. jolts, etc.

I'm sorry, I can't type any longer. Take care. Loretta Jewell