Originally Posted by gabbycakes

Kheldar,

Nice to meet you. We have many things in common the biggest being we both have right elbow/arm injuries. I also have CRPS II with damage to the Ulna Nerve. My injury was a fall in a rollar rink and involved a titanuim prosthesis of the radial head which is the top part of the elbow where your funny bone sticks out. If also effected my hand and I got RSD from the injury or all the surgeries. Then came the nightmare of my life. I could not move my arm/hand or do anything with it for almost 2 years, in plain english it stuc...! What also made it difficult is I could not find a doctor who had the experience to work with me. I was told "there are 5 surgeons in the country who can fix that problem correctly". Well lucky for me I live 60 miles from NYC and one was at the Hopital for Special Surgery. I met a pain doctor there first who diagnosed my RSD and then he introduced me to a upper extremety specialist. Over the course of 4 years I had many surgeries to correct my elbow/arm and at this point I am at about 90% functioning. I also was treated there for my RSD with inpatient ketamine among other treatments . I did return to work P/T and life has returned to normal for the most part. I mean I wouldn't go riding or skiing in fear I would hurt myself again, but I could do it if I wasn't so scared but I shouldn't. My endurance is not good meaning I really can't vaccum, rake, shovel snow, etc.it's the constant movement which in turn gives me pain but I can pick up 50lbs without a problem, weird. I think the key to my success is after many doctors who did not have the experience I found 2 doctors who worked with me and together with each other. They worked so methodically and I will never forget them for what they did for me. Not that the other doctors where not good but is was the experience, my surgeon has dedicated his whole practice to the elbow and it's complicated mechanics and my pain doctor was just amazing. My injury was back in April of 2003.

One of the other doctors practices at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I don't remember his name but I could get it for you , just ask.

The other thing that we have in common is I have many family members who live in MN. Most in the St. Paul area. MN is such a great childhood memory for me, it just seemed so much calmer than the EastCoast.

To end if I where you I would try to find a good upper extremety surgeon. Some are listed under hand surgeons. Hand surgeons study from the elbow down to the tip of the fingers.

Hope this helps.

Gabbycakes