Hubby suffered a major chemical burn to his leg in 1995 - Shortly there after he was diagnosed with RSD.

Treatments/Attention he received that worked:

1.) Hot Tub/Spa Therapy - No weight or pressure on the extremity
2.) Tens Unit - Helped a little
3.) Channel blocks (calcium) - Into his lower back for leg RSD
4.) Pain Management Clinic - Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota

What didnt work:

1.) Ice Therapy
2.) Neurontin (caused HORRIBLE mood swings)
3.) Topical Creams


It took years of therapy, pain managment, etc to get his leg "under-control" - He still deals with pain and an occasional cramping but it is managable and not totally ruling his life.

~ Our New Saga ~

Hubby found a job driving/transporting people (kind of like a taxi but for employees of a specific company) - Vehicle was set up decent for his leg (plus he now has brace) and driving did not effect his leg OVER ALL but there were days when he could not work and delt with pain, cramping and discomfort. He delt with it as best as he could as we have 3 children and he was always our primary wage earner, he felt if he did not do something he was not doing his job as a father and husband. (That male pride thing - Even though he suffered...)

After working this job for a year (some months putting on 10,000 miles or more) he developed ulnar nerve damage (your "funny bone") in both arms. This vehicle he was working in did not have any ergo for his arms, thus the vibrations from the vehicle on roads and on "off road" areas like by railroad tracks and the long miles resting his arms on the side of the door and arm rest caused the casing around the nerve to be crushed around the nerve and there are also other areas of compression.

He was diagnosed with the Ulnar Nerve Damage in early April of this last year 2006 - They did physical therapy for months, tried braces, etc and finally had to resort to surgery (Ulnar Nerve Transposition)....They started with his right arm first.

We were told there was a 50/50 chance that he could develop RSD in his arm - But as hubby had another surgery (approx 4 years ago) with great success we were looking forward to positive results and no RSD flare up.

We could not have been more wrong. Surgery took place in October and after a few weeks of therapy with little to no success - he was diagnosed with RSD in his right arm.

Needless to say all further surgeries have been put on hold (so he still has damage to his left elbow and both wrists...)

And here we go again...........

Hubby is currently on:

1.) Ibuproferen 800
2.) Hydrocodone 7.5 3x's daily
3.) Lyrica
4.) Cylexia
5.) Zanaflex (is that how it's spelled) for muscle spasms

- I worry about all the meds he's on - about it being too much, how it is affecting his body (stomach, etc), We worry about possible addiction to hydrocodone (when in reality it does not even last all the time it should so why is he on it?), The depression he has gone into not being able to provide for his family (Work Comp is fighting his case after paying for 4 months - cut him off, SS has denied him twice - before RSD diagnosis - and we finally got an attorney, and his long term disability he paid for and should be getting - his employers did not file the paperwork or even let them know about the claim and we've had to fight to get that moving and are still working on it), so it's been tough on him. We do have faith that it will all work out - It's just all the awful pain, waiting, wondering, fighting people who are supposed to be responsible financially - aka WC and stress. It has finally gotten to him (he's always been a positive person) and now he's had to have an antidepressent to get through the days.

We've asked his Dr for an non-narcotic alternative for pain - He did not give us any answers just upped his hydrocodone, He actually has 3 dr's so were going to the next one down the line to see if he can get him something...Does anyone know of a non-narcotic that will work??? Or at least something that is not addictive?? Any help in this area would be GREATLY appreciated.

We try and stay positive - We pray a lot too - It's hard some days but we know we will make it - We've been down this road before and I will research, research and research some more until we find something to put this into a managable state again.


HubbyWithRSD