hi debbie,
you spoke of pain killers, and by that i assume you mean narcotics, but you did not speak of meds such as neurontin and i find that is my saving grace for the vibrating zapping swelling and pain. it is where i start as far as rsd control. that goes hand in hand with elevating the area in question, using heat, not over doing, and relaxation techniques. i do not like pt and so do my own exercises at home since i find others do not understand rsd and push me too hard and make things worse. i also prefer ibuprofen to narcotics. i find it helps the swelling and pain, whereas the narcotics just make me tired and loopy ... mostly, with rsd, i have found through the years that what works for one does not always work for another so i wish you the best in your efforts and share what works ... you never know who you may help.
joan