Welcome WordGirl,
I'm so sorry to hear about your RSD. Yes, it's wonderful you found us quite soon. You'll find such kind, compassionate, empathetic friends here. We have a lot of the same symptoms, yet some are more advanced than others, some full body, different lengths of times etc. My RSD came the day following breast biopsy, swollen arm, then frozen shoulder. Had about 100 pt and massage therapy. and went into remission for maybe a year. Then moved to the other shoulder. more pt. and massage. remission for a year. Then nerve pull in left hand while water skiing. all downhill.full body now 12 years. I have a great neurologist, psychiatrist, and pharmacologist all in one Doc. Was on 3200 mg. neurotin to stop the electrical jolts, jerks, stabs, spasms. Got much cheaper at Costco, saved $100 Switched over to the newer drug Lyrica and found it worked better on pain.Was on 400 mg. and not trying to taper off. Both Drugs have weight gain as a little bad bonus. I take Cymbalta, Vicodin. 6 a day and Ambien CR for sleeo and a anti-anxiety drug Lorazepam 2 mg. 3xday. Oh and 2 blood pressure meds. RSD is an autotomic disorder, effecting the organs than are involuntary. That means we sweat and then can be cold , our blood pressure can be high, and then drop real low. circulation -burning hands and feet, and then ice cold hands and feet. It's like the fight or flight syndrome. The sympathetic nervous system goes one direction and the parasympathetic goes the opposite, so the body is constantly trying to keep balanced. I monitor my blood pressure dailey. last night it was 91/53 and this morning 145//85 and tonight 150/94 I passed out over an hour one morning and bp was 60/40 Was in icu 4 days.
I've never heard of anyone over 3600 on Neurotin before. You must be knocked out most of the time. I had a hard time word searching, forgetting, starting sentences over again. sleepy. Wow, that's a lot.

I hope all works out well for your SSDI. That will be wonderful. Don't forget to ask your Dr. for a letter to DMV so you can get a handicap packard for your window. Helps so much for the store etc.I'm going to apply for SSD, I can work anymore. Hope it's not a hassle, I'll get an attorney if it is. I might just start out with one.My daughter is a court reporter. She'll know a good one.
Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing? Stay away from flu. If we get sick, it causes a flare up in RSD and that's not fun. Take care, Loretta Jewell