Anyone who believes you can chop off the RSD problem is going to be sadly disappointed when they wake up after surgery only to find out they're in no better shape than before. As an amputee from the ravages of RSD, the only reason any responsible doctor will ever remove a limb is when the patient is dealing with life threatening and chronic infections that necessitate this type of radical solution. By the way, getting insurance to pay for it is another hurdle and while the idea might sound right, the reality is it doesn't work.

Pain and desperation makes everyone who's in the upper range of severe RSD damage consider this option but the sad fact is amputation just doesn't make the problem go away. In fact it often actually makes it worse across the board. The only good thing that came out of my first amputation (we still need to take the other leg) is that we have less real estate to be infected but be it infections, blood clots or pain, these problems will still exist even after a person has whatever body part removed.

Unless you're dealing with narcotic tissue where the circulation system has shut down, the best solution you have right now for managing the ravaging effects of RSD is through better pain management and therapy that will hopefully help you get the most out of whatever little you still have. While it breaks my heart to read about anyone who's actually desperate enough to live with the effects of living with less of your body just so the problems will somehow ease up, I know first hand that you'd only be creating new and in all likelihood more problems than you have now.

Be up front with your trusted doctor(s) over how you're feeling and how desperate you're feeling. Only then will the doctors understand that you're willing to do whatever it takes just so you can find a bit better quality in daily life. Wishing you only the best, Bob.