[QUOTE=SleeplessInDC;879802]Hi everyone --

I was recently diagnosed with early CRPS. After an ankle surgery 1 month ago, I began having burning pain at the incision site, followed by spreading, agonizing pain from toes to mid-shin. This was accompanied by what I now know are other hallmark symptoms of early CRPS -- increased swelling and sweating, color and temperature changes, decreased sensation, etc.

My orthopedist quickly recognized the symptoms, and started me on Gabapentin. I'm now up to 600x3/day. My pain became uncontrollable using Vicodin/Percocet/Oxycontin, so I'm now on a 25mcg Duragesic patch. The combination of the two meds has decreased the non-pain symptoms of CRPS noticeably (my sensation is much better) and seems to have improved, or at least masked, the pain symptoms partially -- I'd estimate a 30% reduction in pain on average, though it varies a lot from day to day. I find the side effects disruptive -- among others, I have significant memory loss and trouble thinking, and large and constant (but not painful) muscle jerks -- but I'm willing to be patient with them while I get used to the medications and focus on symptom management.

I am now weight-bearing on the affected leg, but will not be able to get my cast off and start PT for another week and a half.

My primary question (I'm sure I will have many more as I move forward, but I want to get a handle on what's already been answered 100x on the board) is this: Knowing everything you know now, what would you do if you had been diagnosed very early in the disease progression? I am in my mid-20s and EXTREMELY motivated to do anything necessary to achieve remission or at least a high degree of improvement -- no matter how painful, inconvenient, or expensive.[/QUOTE

Hi Sleepless,

Been where you are. Very sorry you have received this diagnosis but great that it is early!!!!!! My list of what I would have done is only one item. I would have immediately begun treatment with tDCS. Even though you can only focus on pain control at first it is important to understand the nature of the CRPS beast. The pain is promulgated by brain reorganization. Just about anything you do to manage the pain will not address the root cause of it. Additionally, the CRPS continues to progress. tDCS addresses what is causing the CRPS.

tDCS can be used with other treatments so you don't have to abandon a treatment plan to try it.

By the time I learned of tDCS, (through my own research rather than any doctor) my CRPS was quite progressed, severe and "old and cold." Still I have had a miraculous response to it. Given the condition I am in now I truly believe that had I tried it early on, tDCS would have put me in remission.

I suggest you review the tDCS thread for more specific information and the contact number for the top tDCS doctor in the US.

It is puzzling to me how many patients spend months even years trying treatments that are risky, invasive, costly and have severe side effects rather than trying one that is painless, low risk, cheap and has very low side effects such as tDCS.

It is disturbing to me that many newly diagnosed make post after post asking for help with each new symptom as the disease progresses, but don't try a treatment that can prevent progression and reverse the course of the disease.

Hoping better days are ahead for you.