Further to Mikes comments I actually do have my life back, I was out shoveling snow and had no major problems. I'm not cured, but I am substantially better than I was before I had the surgery. It is believed that the screw that was placed between my 1st & 2nd metatarsal was the main cause of my RSD (why an orthopedic surgeon would place a screw in a foot like that is beyond most medical reasoning but that's another story). My body is still healing, recent x rays show osteoporosis is still evident in the area of trauma but my bones are strengthening and my RSD symptoms are very mild now.

Mike is right, sadly this treatment is not being offered to patients in the acute phases of RSD. My doctors in Germany were very surprised I had never been offered it here in Canada. When I explained this procedure to my PM Dr after I returned home, he replied defensively that he only has 4 bed for the whole of the province of BC. Honestly I think it is because he isn't familiar with the procedure. I am truly happy to see it being used for the injured soldiers, lets hope the knowledge gets transferred to other medical professionals so it can be used more widely. The anesthesiologist who gave me the continuous "peridural" block serves part time with the German Navy helping with the injured from Iraq. I was very happy to be in his expert hands.

MsL