I am sorry that you are going through this. My RSD came from a work related injury too and I've been there done that with work comp. Just a word of warning (not meant to frighten you)...try to not post anything too detailed about your doctors, place of work, etc online because work comp can use stuff you post online to complicate your case. Just posting general information and keeping out specific names is just a good general rule to avoid any issues. Not that anything you post would necessarily be damaging...but let's just say work comp has a way of twisting your words and the context of them. Didn't happen to me...but someone else posted the warning for me way back when and I want to make sure I pass it along too.

Every state has different laws concerning work comp and different rules about whether you can choose your own doctors and any limit that there might be on how many doctors you are allowed to choose. Your attorney should be familiar with those laws.

What you want is to see a doctor who specializes in RSD. If you can find a doctor that you want to see (I would ask people in your area for suggestions on good doctors) then you want to have your attorney go through whatever process there is in your state for being able to see that doctor. He may have to request a hearing for approval of your seeing this new doctor or request approval from work comp...or your state may allow you to see a doctor of your choosing without needing to request approval from work comp first. Your attorney should know and I would start asking those questions now so that if/when you find a doctor that you want to see then you are prepared to take whatever steps are necessary.

Is there a reason you don't feel your doctor is not giving you the treatment you want? Finding the right doctor can be a real trial regardless of whether it is a work related injury. If this doctor diagnosed you with RSD then at least that's a step in the right direction...but their ability to diagnose doesn't mean they are the right person to treat YOU as we all respond to different treatments and have different needs.

You also want to become as educated as possible yourself about RSD and the different treatment options that are available. There is no cure...and some of us have minimal to no luck with many treatments...but there really are a lot of different treatments out there as well as things you can do on your own to help. You should read up on all of them, the benefits and risks of each, and try as hard as possible to make fully informed, rational decisions about treatment. I let a doctor bully me into a particular treatment and I paid for that with spread of my RSD to my upper body. It's also easy to pin all your hopes on ONE particular treatment and unfortunately there just isn't a miracle treatment out there guaranteed to make you pain go away. Do your research, know your stuff, and try to find a doctor who will work WITH you to obtain the goals you want from treatment.

Ask lots of questions here. between all of us we've seen and experienced just about everything. We understand what you are going through and I have learned so much from everyone here. What I have learned has made my life better...not to mention just having a supportive place to come and share what I am going through (good and bad).

Take care and if you have any more specific questions...please ask.