Well, I am not sure where to begin. I am 44 years old and have always been in great health. I have been running for the past 15 years, and started to train to run a half marathon last year. I did some over-training and started having some pain in my knees.
So, I stopped running and went a saw a chiropractor who told me that my knees weren't actually the problems, but it was my ankles. I didn't run for the next 7 weeks and did everything I was told..rest, ice, elevation. The pain did get better, so I started running again. Well, I was not able run more than one mile before the pain in my knees would start again. I never felt any pain in my ankles.
At this point, I decided to go to an Orthopedic doctor. Well, he told me that the pain was coming from my back and wanted me to do some physical therapy. Half way through therapy I started noticing that my feet were tingling and went back to the doctor. He then said that I needed to see the Spine Orthopedic in his office. I had a bone scan, which showed mild arthritis in my back.
I ended up having 2 facet joint injections, which gave me relief in back...because at this point, I was having low left-sided back pain, as well as COLD feet with tingling and burning sensations from my knees down to my ankles. I had a nerve test done which came back showing no nerve damage. I then had 2 lumbar injections, which I am not sure why they did...I didn't get any relief from these.
By this time my pain had doubled and I could hardly walk because my ankles were sore and my legs were starting to swell with most of the swelling being behind my knees. I was prescribed Lyrica, which honestly gave me no relief and made me feel really bad. I couldn't even process a thought. So, he then prescribed Gabapentin, which didn't give me any relief. So, now I am limping and barely able to make it through the day because my pain is so bad. So, I then had left and right ankle MRI's which showed numerous things wrongs.
Orthopedic doctor told me that my ankles were the problem and told me to rest, ice, compression, elevation and gave me a prescription for Ketoprofen and I was PRN. No f/u appt. was scheduled. Within 4 days of icing my ankles in a cold bucket of water, the swelling got worse and so did the pain. From here I have had an arterial doppler, a venous doppler, an MRI of my right knee (because it is has more swelling than the left) and numerous blood tests... all are normal.
Went back to Orthopedic and he referred me to the Ankle Orthopedic Specialist in their office. The ankle orthopedic spent approx. 5 mins with me and told me that he couldn't help me because if he treated my ankles he would make my pain worse because I have CRPS. He referred me to physical therapy and to see a pain management doctor.
I just saw the pain management doctor and he said that he is not totally convinced that I have CRPS, even though I have several of the symptoms...cold feet (not everyday now), burning sensations in legs, pain in ankles and swelling in knees (especially at the joints). I don't have any of the skin changes, but I am now starting to have some needle pin feelings in my legs.
The pain doctor wants me to have a lumbar sympathetic block to confirm my diagnosis. I am scheduled for this on 4/8. I have started physical therapy. I am open to any advice. What should my physical therapist being doing with me to make this as productive as possible? How do I find a doctor that actually specializes in CRPS?
I have concerns that my pain doctor's schedule might be too full, and I won't be able to get the necessary treatment without too much time lapsing between my visits. I am trying to stay positive and keep my faith strong, but some days the pain just beats me.
Am I on the right track? I am so tired of seeing so many doctors and just want to feel good again. How do you go from running 3 to 4 miles a day, to not even being able to walk a block?
