I had an injury to my foot back in May 2004 and developed rsd in the foot and leg. I was terrible. I was walking with a walking boot and cane, or in a wheel chair. I couldn't stand anything touching my foot or leg and was on Neurontin and fentanol patches. Nothing was working. I had 2 sympathetic blocks in my back and one directly to the foot...nothing happened. After the 3rd block there was a change. I was able to start putting pressure on my leg outside of the therapy pool.

Don't give up hope. After about a year and a half from the original injury I was feeling much better. Never completely pain free, but able to control the pain with Advil only, and able to return to my old life by August 2005.

Of course August 2006, I was in a car accident hit from behind, where I jammed my leg/foot and pulled/strained my neck and pinched a nerve.

My leg immediately flared and I was place back on a regiment of pain meds/ not as significant as fentanol, but still narcotic. I did have three more blocks but the Doctors feel that my RSD has changed to "sympathetic independent" whatever that means...basically I won't respond to blocks. But I am functioning. My meds allow be to be somewhat "normal" I can't do my old job anymore, but I am not in a wheelchair either, so I am all too happy.

Just last week I had a thermogram, and it showed that thanks to the wonderful car accident and injury to my neck/upper back. The RSD has spread to my neck/arm/shoulder/upper back on the one side. I don't have the extreme pain as in my leg, but am trying to keep that from happening.

Don't lose heart...If I could come back from where I was after the first injury anyone can...they weren't even able to touch my leg/foot with a tiny fiberoptic wire, it felt like they had stabbed my foot with a 12 inch knife. Don't lose heart..surround yourself with the best doctors in your area, and a PT who is knowledgable in PT (if they don't understand the disease they will push you too hard which will only result in a further flare...believe me I have been to enough of those)...and good luck...Keep positive, and tell yourself that you own your life not the RSD. I know how hard it is sometimes, but keep moving forward and try to stay as positive as you can! Let me know if you need anything. We are all here to support each other!

Take Care.