I'll admit, I haven't gone to the ER since I was about 16. I had age on my side then, so I was able to go straight into the children's ER where the doctors were quite nice and helpful. I went a few times for severe flares mainly. The doctors there didn't necessarily know about RSD, but they were absolutely receptive and did not tell me it was in my head (lord knows we've all heard that a time or two).

All of that being said, I'm a little hesitant to have to go to the "big girl" ER since I'm over 18...I am thankful to be near two excellent hospitals to where I'd at least feel somewhat comfortable going there, but I'm not sure about the hospitals near you. The best advice I can say is plan on going to the ER during the day...not at night. More specialists will be there during the day versus on-call doctors at 3am. Also, if they need to run tests, the necessary people will be there to run the equipment.

I feel like I rambled and I don't really know if I fully answered your question. I'm sorry if I didn't...Best of luck though!