Very well written!!!!! You really got to the heart of the matter, not just with informative information but with real insight on how one feels and deals with this problem! I do agree with the narcotic thing but as a nurse I can tell you this....narcotics are not made to take all pain away just the way one perceives the pain. Some, yes do get a feel of a high although those of us who have high tolerance to pain meds don't get that feeling.....which when you have had this problem for any length of time is probably the case. It is said that physical dependency can happen even after taking narcotics for a week, the difference from physical and mental is huge. Physical dependence will make a person often get symptoms such as diarrhea, hot/cold feelings and in general feel like they have the flu. A person can be physically dependent and not mentally. It is a touch subject as most of us probably take some form of narc. and function just fine without high feelings. When you go into a pain management doctor they typically start on the lowest dose possible and increase and tolerance decreases. I would love to see a study someday when someone looks into RSD and how it works with nerves and tolerance to pain meds, because I swear i didn't think I was tolerant until now. Maybe it has something to do with our uptake and metabolism. Anyway, overall I think your paper has some good points and I like that you touched on that it isn't a mental condition because I have found doctors who still believe that. Good Luck!
Jennelle RN