Hi Candice -

Sorry that no one got back to to earlier, especially with the care you took to include pictures, dated today (9/22). I just now noticed your post, for reasons I can't fathom.

But it's absolutely inexcusable that your complaints haven't been taken seriously by doctors before now. Based upon what you described as well as the photos you attached, it certainly sounds as though it could well be RSD/CRPS. That said, I'm not a heath care professional of any sort, just been hanging around with this for a while now. Speaking of which, you didn't say how long it's been since you first developed sreious pain, which can make a difference in terms of treatment options.

In terms of what to expect, here's a link to an article for patients on the sites of the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome of America (RSDSA) called "Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Diagnostic Tests," by Katie L. Aker http://www.rsds.org/4/resources/CRPS_Diagnosis.htm As you can see, it's basically a link to either the full text of the article (in a pdf farmat) or any particular section you might be interested in. I should just note that it is unlikely that you would have a response to sympathetic nerve blocks, the last testing modality listed, if you've had this for more than a year.

If you are found to have RSD, I would urge you to study the wide range of treatment options out there, before accepting on face value any assertion that you "must do" this or that. In that regard, I would be particularly cautious if someone tried to sell you on anything that had to be implanted in you (a pump or a spinal cord stimulator) before you run through the list of medical (as in medicine) options, which can range all the way from combinations of analgesics and anticonvulsants, to injections of local anesthetics in or near a bundle of nerves, all done in a sterile environment under flouroscopy, to iv infusions of all sorts, most of which are just given in the doctor's office, or any combination of the above! (And don't forget physical therapy as part of the treatment regeme, either.)

Good luck on Wednesday, and keep us posted, fire away with any and all questions, etc. We're a good group, and usually more responsive. Sorry again about that.

Mike