I wasn't going to start a new thread, but after reading so many helpful posts, I decided I'd better. It's nice to see so many names I recognize...lost the site for a long while...our work has blocked us from so many things presently...such a lovely world we live in...

I was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS in 2004 after a broken hand from a car wreck. The orthopedic doctor I was seeing was not a very nice lady and indeed before my case was cemented, she closed her practice. There was a dent in my cast that I believe was the cause originally - that when removed my hand continued to swell even with PT with a hand specialist. So much information was thrown at me that I didn't know what to do. The pain management specialist she told me to see was a man I didn't particularly trust (now I feel very differently about him). The chiropractor I was seeing talked me into seeing him (he actually turned out to be the bum). As I was being told, unless you get this stopped in the first 30 days, you're pretty well beat. Mine was also W/C and although I had to fight every step of the way and felt humiliated when I had to see their doctors (who, by the way were SO very much more human and sympathetic than I ever would have believed). I did have a lawyer who was a very nice man, but involved in many larger 'city' cases and I had to almost pretty much do that myself too; but it made me stronger in some respects but much less trusting of people all around. That hurts my heart, but forgiveness comes and goes - as does the pain.

2007 - My husband and I took care of my mom for the 15 months before she died and on a trip to visit my sister, who died 5 months later, I took a BAD fall on my knee.

In the recurring 3 years, I've had MRI's of my back (Lumbar) and left knee, numerous visits to doctors; more pain shots for my back, which were helping and the office just didn't call me back so I gave up them. When my hip, leg and back got so bad, I went back to a physical therapy doctor's treatment center who talked me into IDD traction treatments, which along with physical therapy was working. After the initial (very expensive) 15 sessions on my back, I was supposed to go monthly for a year and then quarterly. This is all out of pocket as insurance didn't cover this treatment. The actual physical therapy was covered; however, we are allowed 20 treatments for the year and he was supposed to get permission to add on some treatments for my hip and leg...the plan all along. On the 5th month's follow up treatment something seemed to go wrong. My back got almost as bad as it was in January (2010) when I started it. Also after waiting 4 months all I got was a verbal - insurance will not cover any more tretments. I've called their office and I just don't hear back. So very disappointing what human nature has become. So here I am...it is now October and I seriously believe I have a flare of the RSD again. I'm scared. I need to continue to work but it is difficult with so much pain to contend with; it's difficult to concentrate. From the beginning I always thanked God that what I was dealing with could not be seen, that I could handle this with grace. Now I'm not so sure. I turned 60 in June and it felt like - okay you're old - 'cause all of a sudden I feel like my body has turned on me.

In 2007 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia of which the exhaustion is the worst of it. I read on another post of someone's that their legs get red and hot and burning. Well, how smart was I...Because I've been told that my right thumb joint or below it is now diagnosed as arthritis (osteo) and bursitis as well as my back and knee and the hip??? no one says anything about the hip. Just keep moving and stretching. VERY difficult to do when you're so tired at night all you want to do is sleep and then keep waking up because I can't get my leg comfortable. Well, I do have a glass of wine at night and have gone back to smoking, but...my knees and feet get very hot and red and I just put that down to the arthritis. Now that my left hand is acting up (up to above the elbow now), I'm wondering if it isn't the RSD going haywire all over?????? I'm feeling somewhat lost and discouraged. The more it seems I work at getting better, the worse I seem to get, and no I am not exercising enough and I'm probably not taking enough pain med. The PT doc put me back on neurontin, which I got on okay, but with loss of equilibrium and memory, I finally took myself off it a couple of months ago which was a b**ch. I was just so mad at him. He also had suggested a liquid medication that was Ketaprophen that the pharmacy had to make. When my hubby went to pick it up it was OVER $500 - DID NOT Get That...they did manage to make another one much less expensive but I never finished it...I didn't know what if anything it was doing.

So...on and on I go; sorry...I didn't plan on it. Thanks for listening and being out there. I'm grateful for that. cathy