My names is Kathy and was diagnosed with CRPS in early OCtober 2011. I had arthroscopic shoulder surgery on April 1, 2011 to repair a labrum tear, rotator cuff tear and an impingement. The surgery went well. However, afterwards, I had severe swelling and pain. This prevented me from progressing in PT. I had been given 3 months of anti-inflammatories and 2 cortisone shots but nothing really helped.

In July, the surgeon suspected a nerve related issue and sent for an EMG. The results were normal. I then had a ultrasoind guided cortisone injection in the shoulder joint. This did absolutely nothing. My surgeon still felt that it was nerve related and referred me to a physiatrist whith whom he works closely with. While I was waiting for my appointment, my spain spread to my forearm and hand and the horrendus burning began. I was immediately placed on gabapentin. ird day of the 2nd week, I was disoriented and confused so I weaned myself off. My doctor was not happy. He realized that I am very sensitive to medication so he changed me to 25 mg of Lyrica and upped it twice to 75 mg. My new doctor sent me for an EMG of the brachial plexus. It showed low amplitude but the doctor felt that it could be due to the swellimg so he then sent me for a cervical MRI and brachial plexus MRI. The result were 2 slightly bulging disks that had nothing to due with the pain.

I am not able to touch anything with my right hand without pain. Of course this is my dominant arm. My doctor escalated me up to a pain doctor in late October. I have had 1 stallate ganglion block that only produced relief for a few hours. The pain doctor also doubled my Lyrica to 150 mg daily.

The burning now has spread to the back of my bad shoulder and has become very painful. I am scheduled for another stellate ganglion block next Wednesday 12/21.