Hi and Welcome,
I was diagnosed with RSD after 4 years. My neuro started me on 300 mg, but only had rsd in one hand. Now 9 years later and full body, and a different Neuro. I had to be on 3200 to stop the violent jerks, electric jolts, spasms that happened dailey. The neurotin at 3200 stopped the symptoms, gained a lot of weight, but it helped the burning pain and like I said the dailey jolts. When Lyrica become more common on the market we switched to Lyrica. For me, at 400 mg. I felt it helped the burning pain better. Besides, this drug, I was on two anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, sleeping pill, pain pills, and two blood pressure meds.
Last October I asked the Doctor if I could try and go off the Lyrica, I hated the weight gain, and brain fog. We gradually went off and I love the clear head and lost 30 lbs in 6 months. On my 2nd 30 lbs weight loss. I have had a couple issues with spasms,but nothing like before. I was having terrible insomnia, so he changed me from Ambien CR to Seroquel and I'm sleeping again SO WELL! He cut my anti-anxiety in half and reduced the vicodin from 6 to 5. I'm feeling so much better with the SLEEP. I think I may be able to go down to 4 vicodin.
I was diagnosed when I went out of state to a orthopedic hand specialist, I knew I didn't have rheumatoid arthritis, as I was diagnosed. The new Dr. diagnosed me in 1 minute, then sent me over to hospital of neuclear med scan on hand, which confirmed it.
After I came back home, I saw a neuro. who did additional nerve studies and confirmed RSD. The out of state ortho, ordered a Tens Unit, which I liked and started me on physical therapy. When I came back home, continued the p.t. with an ortho hand specialist, but only got partial use of my hand back. It's frozen like a claw, thanks to the idiot rheumatologist.
For the past 5 years, I've been fortunate to have a neuro, psychiatrist, and pharmacologist in one Dr. For me, I needed a psychiatrist to help me thru the losses we experience and get to a better frame of mind that helps with quality of life.
Hope the best for you, hope you get an accurant diagnosis and the help you deserve. Take care, loretta