Hi Vicky - I have family that lives up near you. They are in Lake City and Merritt. I grew up in St. Helen .

I am currently living in Eaton Rapids. I hate RSD - I was in an auto accident in 2007, injured right foot and knee, had surgeries on my knee and foot, nothing helped. Diagnosed with nerve damage, had blocks, had a Spinal Cord Stim implanted (twice ), tons of meds and creams, doing blocks again as the RSD is now taking my back, neck, arms and fingers. Starting P.T. on the 22nd of March to help see if de-sensitizes will help. Waiting on a call back from the Cleveland Clinic to see if they will accept me as a patient.

My suggestion to you - READ everything you can!! Research, ask questions! Get other opinions if you have the insurance/options. Check out the University of Michigan's Pain Clinic or go straight to Cleveland.

RSD is scary - it's a hateful, spiteful, mean monster. While I was "being greedy" and wanting to be rid of the pain in my leg and foot and saying it would be easier to deal with "it" in an arm (I miss walking, driving, etc), I didn't realize (or understand) that it would take over everything.

I understand that everyone is different, they are affected differently, respond to treatments differently, but make informed decisions. If the blocks don't provide relief, look into other treatment options quickly but precisely. One wrong decision (like mine), and it can anger and awaken the monster to a point that your life is "over" and you are just watching from the sidelines.

If you can get it manageable with meds and blocks, be happy with that. Check out the risks on "improving" the condition.

I don't want to scare you. I just want to help you understand that it is a long road with many tough hills to climb. This forum is a great staircase to help up those hills.