I guess I need to tell my story, what I remember of it and maybe that will help you understand me.

I had Carpal Tunnel surgey Feb 09. My recovery to say the least did not go as planned. After 8 weeks on pain meds and still no relief, I was placed with an Occupational therapist. I was in terrible pain which was blamed on scar tissue squeezing my median nerve, causing the blotchiness, swelling etc.

Everytime the therapist touched my hand and forearm I wanted to go through the roof. I was told though that it was just part of the scar tissue trying to break up and it would eventually go away.

At the beginning of Sept. I walked in to OT and I said the words that changed everything!!! "You know, I've been trying to describe my pain to my family and the only thing that I can come up with is, IT FEELS LIKE MY HAND IS SITTING ON A STOVE THAT IS TURNED ON HIGH!" Why oh why hadn't I said this before??? My OT sprung into action like she was fighting evil!

With-in two days she had talked to the doctor that performed my surgery, talked to a CRPS specialist (that happened to be her teacher) and talked to someone about a tens unit.

My OT said she thought I had it early on but she could not diagnose me however, once I made the statement about my hand and the stove she knew there was turning back for me and what she was doing was not going to help me.

After another surgery to release trigger thumb, many many stellate ganglion blocks, OT excercises, neurotin, cymbalta, amitriptyline, oxycodone, ketamine cream, tens unit and my glove, I sit here today with little relief! WHY?

Do we get better? Are we able to ever function without pain? Or do we try our best to tolerate the pain for what little time we can? I have all these procedures done and get a little relief for a few days, when does remission happen? Why am I going through all these shots if there is NO CURE? Why do people look at me like OH MY GOSH, you're not beter yet? How do I make people understand when I DON'T???