Blocks can be used as a diagnostic tool, while potentially giving you major pain relief. At a year since onset your body has not hard wired the RSD yet, so you have a greater chance of going into remission.

Get to the pool yesterday.

See if you can get a trial tens unit.

Ask your doc if he will prescribe Lidocaine cream. It is usually prescribed for shingles. I prefer patches, but they're expensive if insurance won't cover them. The cream is like $12.50 a tube. Use only on your worst days...

Some pain docs are less likely to write scrips for pain meds than a GP since all of the media coverage began regarding drugs like Oxy. So, they'll err on the side of caution before writing a script for someone they're concerned might be exhibiting drug seeking behavior.