That's terrible...doesn't sound like you have the right therapist. I completely understand what you are going through and believe me...getting the right therapist is SO important when you have RSD. As is getting the pain under control and manageable so that you can DO the physical therapy.

My suggestion is to go in and discuss this with your doctor...but not take the position that you just can't do the physical therapy at all. Physical therapy is a VERY important part of getting the function back and to keep the RSD from getting worse...but it needs to be the RIGHT sort of therapy. Discuss your goals with the doctor and start a discussion with him about how you can accomplish these things.

Earlier this year I was in no condition to handle outpatient physical therapy. My doctor was amazing to work with and she ordered home physical therapy for me. This worked out so much better because we started out with VERY VERY basic stuff. Just doing ankle stretches while sitting, heel and toe raises while sitting...stuff like that. It was no weight bearing at first and we worked out way up to that. It was all stuff I could do in my house throughout the day, EVERY day, and that worked a million times better for me. My therapist was amazing...pushing me just enough but never overwhelming me and always listened to me if I said I couldn't do something.

But physical therapy is really stuff that you need to do every day throughout the day and not just AT therapy. This is why it is so important to work with someone who understands RSD or is willing to be educated about RSD so that they understand what your limits are.

Also...discuss your pain levels with the doctor. I don't know what all you have tried...but maybe discuss getting a portable TENS unit that you could use at home and wear while you do the therapy. This has been a life saver for me and more helpful than any medications they have had me try. Maybe try a different med, or combination of meds (only start one at a time though), try heat therapy, maybe discuss the possibility of tDCS or ketamine. Maybe before therapy sessions try taking a warm bath with epsom salts or try ultrasound heat therapy.

If you still end up going to outpatient PT, maybe discuss with the therapist trying the ultrasound or stim therapy at the beginning and/or end of therapy. When I did outpatient therapy way back when this first started they did the ultrasound for 5 minutes at the beginning of therapy and then stim with HEAT at the end. Also...make sure to discuss all these things with your therapist too. Let them understand that you WANT to do the therapy and get the function back but that the current program is too intense and leaves you unable to function afterwards because the pain is so bad.

If the doctor and/or therapist aren't willing to work with you on this then you may need to find new ones. I was so bad that I was stuck in a wheelchair for months unable to stand or walk for most of 2011. But after 7 months of physical therapy at home I am now able to walk with a walker, a little bit without (the pain level gets too high too fast for me to do this regularly), up/down stairs with a cane...it's still not like I was before but it is SO much better than I was doing before. And the pain is better than it was before as well.

Just remember that this all takes a long time. 3 weeks into physical therapy I still had to use the wheelchair and couldn't barely stand for 30 seconds at the counter. But you just need to keep working on it and even though you won't necessarily see big changes every day or week...after a month or so you will start to notice things that you can do NOW that you couldn't do 4 weeks ago...6 weeks ago...etc. It takes daily dedication to doing these things (which is why I am such a huge believer in at home therapy because EVERYTHING you learn will be something you can do on your own without special equipment)...but if you just set your mind to it you can accomplish great things.

BUT...first you need to work with the doctor and the therapist to set these things up so that they will work for you and to make sure that you are having your pain properly managed so that you CAN do these things. Just wanting to isn't enough unfortunately...we do need help. It helps me to write out on a piece of paper what my goals are and what things I want to try to reach those goals. First dicsuss the goals with the doctor and how he thinks you might reach them (explaining to him that the current situation is NOT working for you). Then...if he doesn't have any ideas or doesn't mention the things you listed that you want to try, discuss those specific things with him. Maybe a TENS unit isn't something he would have ever thought about but maybe it would help you a LOT. I mentioned this to my physical therapist and that day she called my doctor, who approved one, and the next day I HAD the unit in my hands. I was stunned at how quick that all happened...but then I had a physical therapist and a doctor who I have a great relationship with and they know how dedicated I am to getting better so they will try to give me any and all tools that I need to get better.

Sorry this is so long...I really hope that at least something I have related about my own experience is able to help you. I hope that you are able to find some relief from this awful pain soon. Good luck.