I have MS and now the doc thinks I may have Causalgia. That's what he is calling it b/c I do not have all the symptoms of RSD. I present with more of frozen shoulder with a lot (LOT) of pain, hypersensitivity, swelling, tenderness, and am not able to really move my right shoulder.

This all started last November when I had an MS exacerbation. I had 3 days of IV solumedrol over the Thanksgiving holidays and my shoulder actually got worse. That was my first clue that the pain and swelling in my shoulder/arm was not related to MS. If it had been, the symptoms would have subsided. I ended up in the ER b/c the pain was so bad that no one could even touch my shoulder, arm, clavical area or my neck.

I have seen an orthopaedist, neurogologist (mine and another one), neurosurgeon, the ER doc, physiatrist, PT. I've had a complete MRI of my spine with and w/o GAD, MRI of my brain w and w/o GAD, MRI of my shoulder, brachial plexus, xray, EMG, and they have all come back relatively normal. I've also had 3 steroid shots - 2 in my shoulder and one in my neck (ESI procedures).

The spine MRI showed a pinched nerve at the C3/4 and 5/6. Some other pathology not related to my shoulder. Edema in the shoulder joint on the shoulder MRI.

But the biggest issue has been the pain. 10+ and the inability to move my right arm. And not being able to sleep.

The ortho doc decided to start me on PT this past week. The PT guy, Ron, says I don't present with "typical" frozen shoulder. He is seeing something more with the sympathetic nerves. Too much pain for just "frozen shoulder." So he calls the physiatrist.

I talked to the physiatrist on Monday morning and he had me in that afternoon for a sympathectic nerve plexus block. OMG! What a relief!! I could not believe the difference.

I saw him again today and he has me scheduled for another block on Friday.

My question is...what's going on for those of you who have been down this road? He says he is going to start me on a series of analgesic shots in trigger points in my shoulder to relieve the pain and hopefully allow me to gain enough pain relief to get some movement back in my shoulder through PT.

I am at the point right now that I don't really care...I do. I am so happy to finally be rid of this 10+ pain. But I would like to know more about what's going on. It's nice to not be on pain meds that don't really work.

I started Neurontin a month ago and can only take 300 mg. Lyrica freaked me out - hallucinations!! I am a drug lightweight!

Thanks to Ali for getting me over here...finally!