Hi everyone I really need some advice. I am a 19 year old college student and I have had chronic costochondritis for 2 years on and off. However, over the summer, it became worse and I suddenly developed a burning sensation in my back that spread to my ribcage in August. This burning never went away. I basically had to be bedridden and laid down as much as possible to try to settle it. The burning gets worse anytime I use the muscles, which is hard since it is my thoracic spine area, upper back, and chest. My doctor said that they thought it was just irritated nerves or intercostal neuralgia..... Unfortunately, I was doing some reading and I read about CRPS and how it can develop after a minor injury and then will never go away. I am devastated.... I believe this is what I have... I currently am seeing a Rheumatologist for this condition and am undergoing an MRI for my chest this week but I don't know how to ask about CRPS and what I should do to try to catch this as soon as possible since unfortunately it has already been over 5 months. I should also mention that after this occured, I started experiencing pricking and tingling sensations in other places of my body. My doctor told me that it was probably caused by anxiety that I was experiencing due to the severe burning pain in my back and to just relax. The sensations in other parts of my body went away for awhile but it comes back occasionally and I also read that that is another symptom of CRPS? Also I was not on any medication for the condition other than NSAIDS such as Naproxen, Advil, and Prednisone (the Prednisone was for a few days). It did not relieve my pain so I basically took no medication on most days and just continued to lay down and use ice.

I am so worried. I can't get in to see a neurologist until January 8th. I definitely suspect that I have RSD because for over 5 months I have had intense burning in my upper back between my shoulders and ribcage. This burning pain has already spread to my knees 2 weeks ago and my knees have been constantly burning as well, making me not able to walk or stand very long. On top of this, I am getting numbing and tingling in my hands and feet and I feel that my feet are burning tonight. I feel it is spreading. I am having an MRI of my back and chest in two days but I know that if this is RSD, which is very likely, that I can't wait any longer. I am wondering what you guys think I should do? I really am scared about waiting any longer.