DON'T EVER GIVE UP!! Ever, ever, ever!

The guy sounds like a typical neurologist whose ego is bigger than his brains. Bummer.

Send a letter to his office requesting a copy of his report, so you can see exactly what he wrote to WC. There's a reason WC picks these guys. If he screwed up your report in any way you will want to write a rebuttal for your files to cover yourself. Did you really think WC would pick someone who was going to recomend they spend $$?

And you are entitled to your own doc for a 2nd opinion. The trick is to find your own guy and make sure he's a really good one. I got incredibly lucky because the parents of a child that had been sick for years with RSD (the boy actually went to Germany for the coma) told me who to call in Boston. How can you find a similar doctor for yourself? Is there an RSD support group in your area? The RSDSA.org has a list of them. Maybe you could find the closest group and make some phone calls. Find out who the best doctors are that take care of RSD patients. I think that the RSDSA web site has some info on that, too. FMichael has provided links to search engines that will list board certified PM and Anesthesiol by zip code (or something like that). Or call the PM center of the BEST teaching hospital closest to you. I used my United Health insurance for many of my appts with my doc, including the initial consultation and the first block, and my attorney had to get them reversed to WC at a later date. I just did what had to be done.

You have to follow up on all the doc's suggestions - like the neuropathy. I had to have Rheumatoloy testing done, because a doc said so, even though I had had it done 6 or so years ago and it was all negative. It came back all negative again, like I knew it would. But my twin sister has RA with lupus overlap and once they saw that the docs wanted me tested. I'm sure it cost a small fortune for all the bloodwork and the 2 specialists visist, not my problem...

Jim Broatch from the RSDSA can provide you with a list of who does ketamine. That's how I found out. I made my own phone calls and sent out packages of info on my own (with the help of my PCP office and PT, who sent out their stuff as applicable). My doc in Boston had to send a referral for me to the doc in NYC, which he did. If it weren't for the support of all the people taking care of me (and that have taken care of me in the past), then I probably wouldn't have been be where I am today. Of course, the ketamine hasn't been approved by WC yet, it will take a few months and my attorney assured me we will end up in court over it. (I can't pull out my United Health for that one, they don't cover it.)

Ultram is a synthetic opiod, I was on it when I was first injued and didn't want to take any narcotics but was in pain and needed something - I was still working. It comes in different doses. Its OK. Do you have a PCP? Mine writes my pain meds.

BTW, I made a timeline, and have always kept monthly summaries of my case since I was diagnosed, including major changes in my symptoms, drug changes, docs, etc. My docs find it very helpful.

My appt. with Schwartzman in Philly is in June 2010, I made it in Dec 2008.

By taking control of the situation, you might stop flaring. We always expect a lot, and wait and wait and wait...and then get blown away when these guys are jerks. So sorry that happened to you.. try to re-group, and make a list, and then maybe go to RSDSA and start over with your OWN doc... who will be vested in your interests.

Good luck, and please take it easy. We are all thinking of you.

XOXOX Sandy