Sad to say...but I think a lot of us with RSD have been where you are. Malpractice is hard when it comes to RSD I would imagine because it's so hard to prove that they did something wrong to CAUSE the RSD when ANYTHING can cause it. Many RSDers don't even know what caused their RSD to start because the injury was so incredibly minor (if there was one at all). So the docs could do everything right and it really may not be anyone's fault. Sucks...but there it is.

Any surgery is filled with risks and I know that I feel like I sign my life away (quite literally) every time I have to sign those forms before a procedure saying that I understand the risks. My RSD spread after a block that I got that was supposed to help the RSD in my ankle. The doctor never mentioned this possibility...but it's rare so I am not surprised. I never thought of going after him though because it's just one of those freak things. Where I have an issue with the doc is his refusal to treat me at all after the spread (as though I WERE suing him). I didn't blame him but I think he was so afraid of being sued that he just referred me to a neurologist and my primary care doctor and told me to go to the ER rather than have anything more to do with me.

And we all know what it is like to have our lives change so much after RSD. Many can't return to work at all and end up on disability. Not because they want to...they would much rather be working and never have heard of RSD...but because there is no other choice for them. I don't know if you have tried all the different treatments available out there but do you have any sort of disability leave at work? If you do then maybe it would be a good idea to use it and focus on your health for a while to see if you can find treatments that will help you. That's more or less what I did and it was a ROUGH year. I hated every minute of not being at work but it gave me the time to go through physical therapy, find the right doctors, get on the right treatments, and now after a year and a half off I am back at work. Still have RSD, still am in pain all day every day, but am able to function and have something approaching a more normal life. Might be something to look into, if you have any sort of medical leave.

Sorry you had such a bad day. Throughout my whole deal with work and work comp and dealing with incompetant doctors I had many many bad days. Sometimes the choices we have absolutely suck...but we have to make them and figure out what we need to do to make it through. We're here for you...so vent away whenever you need to. I know I personally found it very therapudic to even just type out my thoughts...helped me organize things in my mind and make some tough decisions. Take care.