Hi,
This is my 1st time posting to this forum. I'm so glad I found you! I was dx'd with crps just last week. I have no doubt this is something I've suffered with the majority of my life.

I am very upset by something that happened today. I'm wondering if a rash (like those posted in photos on this forum) that is limited ONLY to a specific and injured area could be the sign of a reaction to medication.

Just some background: My dx is a result of a sprained wrist that would not heal. Two months after the injury, i was unable to move my fingers, i was in EXTREME pain and had sensations of flames shooting through my hand (and eventually up my arm), my hand/arm has turned pale white.
OT made everything feel worse, my doctor accused me of just seeking pain meds and told me there was nothing wrong with me (I told her I didn't care what class of meds she gave me -- as long as they worked). I found a new doctor who had the experience to know I have crps. He gave me a RX of Gabapentin and almost immediately the pain lessened in my hand, and by the next day I was able to make a fist.

The med seems to help so much with the original pain I was feeling in my hand. I saw the doc yesterday and he said to stay on it for a month and then we'll see about finding a doc who can help long term. I had a rash on my hand when I saw him. By the time I got home the rash was SO painful, it hurt for even AIR to touch it. (It looks exactly like the rashes posted in this forum).
This morning, I had flames shooting up my arm and into my neck. I called the doc and told his assistant I didn't believe I could wait a month. I told her the rash was limited to my injured hand only. I received a voicemail this evening that said for me to stop the Gabapentin because I was obviously having a reaction. (???)

I'm so confused!! Could the Gabapentin cause a rash that is ONLY on the injured area? Would it cause an increase in the nerves firing? It's helping so much with the original crazy making pain I was feeling. The doc admitted to me that he is not familiar enough with this to treat me long term. I'm going to try to call a new doctor tomorrow. I guess, based on what I've read here, that I should seek a pain mgm't specialist…?

I've decided to not take the Gabapentin tonight and hopefully be able to find a new doc tomorrow. I don't know what else to do!?!?

I've been told I'm crazy since I was 12 yrs old and dx'd with lupus. I've since spent my life with strange things that don't add up -- injuries that don't heal, pain worse than injury, nerve pain, etc. I thought I found hope in this new doctor…but now I feel as though i'm back to not being able to get answers. I guess I get to pick myself up and push on until I find the right doctor who can help me going forward.

Thanks for letting me vent/share my story. I'm looking forward to reading about your experiences.