First, thank you for getting back to me right away, I was amazed, and grateful, and relieved to see that you had! Thank you so much for staying up to do that! I live in WI, so if it was 3:30 when you posted there, it was 5:30 (?) here? (I think my post was around 3...idk, I've been up all night, can't see previous thread at the moment, and the combo of Neurontin and pain is doing a number on my brain at the moment) Anyway I'm up anyway, I didn't feel "bombarded" at all- in fact, I'm in nursing school (for now), and have planned on med school my entire life. And w/a lot of family members also in science fields I'm used to being bombarded with "science talk". This, however, is new to all of us, and even with the little I know thus far, I'm actually the expert of the family for once. (silver lining, I guess)

So you brought up some really important points that I've been thinking (and worrying) about a lot the last few days. First of all, even though I trust my neurologists (2 in the practice), I am concerned about the course of treatment right now. Now, they have addressed, and stressed the importance of "catching" it within the three month period, which we did. *My bunionectomy on L foot which was determined to be the cause, was done mid October, and when I was still in a ton of pain (more than my podiatric surgeon was comfortable with), he assessed it at 6week post-op visit and after seeing my foot and the current (clean) xrays, thought it could be rsd/crps and sent me for consult w/neurologist (and an mri, just to make sure it wasn't pin mis-placement, which it wasn't). By the end of week 7, I had seen the neurologist had an EMG, and been back to neuro again and rsd/crps was confirmed.

At this point they started me on Topamax and Neurontin, with the instructions to up the doses every week for the first four weeks, and to come back in 1-2 months. (which seemed awfully long to me) b/c by the time i was dx, it had already been nearly 2 mos- so they wanted me to come back at 4mos?! And when I asked about PT- (because my surgeon was also concerned about geting function in my foot back) neuro said that I had to wait until the meds were working and pain was under control, or else it could risk making the crps worse, or cause it to spread...which it's already doing, mind you...up my left leg, and even when they were doing the EMG the dr noticed the color starting to change in my right leg, and sure enough, a week and a half later and the pain has now spread over to the right leg too.

I'm scared b/c I'm running out of time before the three month time window closes... my current neuro has mentioned nerve blocks mult. times, but always as something to be done in the future. I didn't realize that was something that needed to be done ASAP.

Just yesterday I was talking to my family about trying to hunt down the best dr in the field for a second opinion on this... because it's so rare, and my time is so limited, obviously going to just anybody, even if they're "good" isn't going to cut it. I just don't know how to find the best, I appreciate your tips....cuz that was my first hurdle- I didn't know what the best way to narrow it down was, by specialty I mean...be it by Neuro, or pain specialist, etc. AND to make matters more troublesome, this is something that more than anything I've ever experienced, if one isn't careful, even the best and most appropriate treatments can go terribly wrong if done incorrectly, or not at the right time for the right person...(if that makes sense). So after using your tips to narrow down the options, how does one know who to choose? Of course I'd like to see someone close by where I live, but at the same time, if someone better is accros the country, then I'll go- I'm 23, my whole life is ahead of me, and will be in their hands... And even though I'm completely broke, to the point that I will lose my apt soon b/c I can't get work being disabled, I will still do whatever it takes to make sure I get seen by the best, my future depends on it- and this is one case where I think my family would maybe help me out, and chip in for a plane ticket if need be (fingers crossed).

It's all just starting to break my heart..I used to be a gymnast and competitive cheerleader (in high school anyway), and then an avid runner, and horseback rider, and I desperately want that back...I want my life back. There has to be a way- there simply has to be a way.

Thanks again- for the enormous help and support, and as always, for listening to me vent...it's more helpfull than any meds I've ever had!

(and p.s. I apologize if I'm "jumpy" for lack of a better word, in my posts lately... these meds make me, as I call it, just plain "stupid" lately...they say it will fade. Just bare with me- thanks guys!!)