I SOOO hear you..how many years of my life and my family's have been wasted? I have 2 teenagers. What if they had had a "real" mom these last few years? Neither one had a good year academically in school last year or the year before that. Would it be different if I hadn't been sick? How much of a difference could I have made in their lives if I was on the ball?

I hope to be getting my life back with these treatments. Right now I am totally wiped out, and trying to get caught up with domestic chores before heading back to NJ for my first round of 2-day boosters. I'll be flying back and forth weekly for the next month from Boston to Atlantic City. My parents take care of me while I am in NJ getting the infusions.

We desperately need more ketamine treatment centers and the insurance industry to come on board. My parents helped me out by agreeing to pay cash for my treatments, since Dr. Getson's office policy is not to accept any insurance. (I try not to make myself crazy with thoughts that he is just after the cash..") After the run around I have received from United Healthcare, I can almost understand why. I have spent HOURS on the phone, attempting to straighten out my claim, so that when the bills are submitted my parents are properly reimbursed. I arranged for my treatments to be considered "In Network," since there is no ketamine infusion therapy for RSD offered in the RI area. That way I am only liable for my deductible. But when I called to check my claim yesterday, I needed to speak to about 6 different people in various depts just to get that part lined up with the medical claim itself. And the infsuions had been authorized as just a single event, taking place in the month of March!! It took over 2 hours to clean up my claim. This is on top of the hours I spent appealing their denial before leaving for my treatments!!

This claim is actually a WC claim, but WC has denied everything and it is still in the courts. Approval, which is expected, could take another few months or longer.

I ditto you on all of the what if's - the buring pain (with the ortho). Why did I agree to a 2nd surgery? My surgeon was the best of the best, I thought he knew what he was doing!! That was almost 3 years ago, a year after the first surgery. The horrific PT, and the ICE....ughhhh. I had never heard of RSD until he mentioned it in June of 2008. By then it was too late.

I just want my nightmare to end....and sincerely hope the ketamine continues to work...(I am NOT 100%...but I am better than before, and intend to continue to try to improve).

Thanks Finz...and I wish you the best. Where are you from? You can obtain a list of the ketamine providers from Jim Broatch at the RSDSA. That is how I started my search.

XOXOX Sandy