My doc kind of gleefully pronounced he loved me as a patient because I'm one of his more complex cases. My sarcastic response was, "gee, thanks!" and then we both laughed.

The doc patient relationshp with RSD is more important than normal, because a high level of trust, communication, and respect is required by both parties for any hope of successful management of the disorder. We're not easy patients to treat medically and they often have to fight for us to get access to the right procedures and best medications.

If you can't open up to your doc, analyze why. Is it your issue? Or are they communicating to you that they're not thrilled with having to provide your care? And I'm going to repeat myself from another thread and sound like a pompous ninny with my own catch phrase, but--There are other fish (with medical degrees) in the sea!