Glad you got the appointment with the pain specialist. Maybe with insurance it's one of those things where they need the confirmed diagnosis before they can approve an appointment with the specialist? Who knows...I've met so many incompetent doctors and had so many quirky issues with insurance over the years that I don't think anything would surprise me anymore.

I am almost positive I have read posts from others who have PN and CRPS...so that does happen. My understanding in general is that it's like an autoimmune disorder in the sense that if you have one you are more likely to have or develop another. But RSD/CRPS is still not very well understood so it's hard to make generalizations about what it really is or what it is like...especially since it can affect each of us so differently (and yet be so similar too...it's such an odd condition).

Don't get your hopes down about the block. MANY people respond well to them. It's just that after a certain amount of time passes then the odds go down on the percentage it helps. But there are many who have been treating with blocks for years and have gotten good relief so you never know.

There are lots of different treatments out there besides blocks and often treatment includes a combination of several like meds, physical therapy, tDCS, SCS, ketamine treatments, etc. You can read about all of these things on here. There have been success stories with all as well as disappointments. Unfortunately there's just no cure all treatment that has been found...YET.

Take care and keep asking questions. we're here for you and we all understand what you are going through right now.