Hi Everyone: Just started taking Butrans patch and Gebapentin as well as a compound pain cream for Chronic Pain following intra articular fractures of both heels and talar bone. I have not had one day without pain since the injury 10 months ago. Severe numbness, like tight bands around ankles, feels like the skin has been pulled off the backs and sides of both heels, ankles feel impinged and the bones in the front of my feet feel like they will snap apart when I try to walk, heel to toe. I have had six months of physical therapy and I am currently doing hydro therapy for an additional six weeks. I have seen no improvement on anything I have tried. Functionally, I can move my feet, they turn red, blanched, yellowish and at times, sometimes are purplish. They are either ice cold or burning sometimes at the same time. The medicines were started three days ago but I have not had any relief. I don't like the drugged feeling I get from the Gabapentin and feel I need additional tests. The doctors suspect it is a mild form of CRPS because I do not have significant edema. These injuries occurred as a result from a fall off of a loading dock at work and because it is Workers Comp. everything has to be preapproved and a code assigned for a specific condition before tests can be done. My doctor of record is an orthopedic surgeon and I am currently seeing a pain specialist. My worry is that this will get worse - I am feeling numbness in my thigh and also in my shoulder. Any suggestions on what I should ask to be done?

Welcome, RJS58. Sorry for what you are enduring. Hope you find the answers.

Hello RJS58,

Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups

I see you've found the CRPS/RSD Forum, but I thought I'd leave a couple more for you to check if you need to do that.

Chronic Pain Forum

Medications & Treatments Forum

Layoffs, Unemployment and Workers Compensation Forum

All the best to you. I hope you are able to find the information and support that you're looking for.

Welcome RJS58.

Thank you - ME TOO!

Hello again RJS,

I replied to your CRPS forum post and just saw this. Didn't realize full extent of your symptoms and question till I saw this one. I believe if you have numbness, pain and tingling after any procedure it is fair to take a look at the possibility of a nerve entrapment or injury. A nerve conduction study can check this without the more invasive EMG. Your ortho can refer out for NCS. It's at least another piece of information and rule out. Also, if you are someplace with a peripheral nerve surgeon around (usually plastics) they have tricks on evaluating for nerve entrapment via "scratch collapse" test. Entrapment can mimick CRPS, so reasonable to explore. sorry you are going through such a hard time. I went through 3 surgeries in the span of 1 year on the same foot, 9 months on crutches. Done the pool routine, etc. Recovery can be a bear! I definitely get that and the whole foot is freaking out, turning colors thing.
On neurontin, I only took that at bedtime cuz of the goofiness factor. I ended up doing better on nortriptyline, still only at bedtime. Everyone is different, it takes a while to find what works. You WILL make progress. We don't know when, we don't know how, it may come with agonizing slowness (mine has), but YES it does come. Don't give up!
Sending Healing Love, Littlepaw

Hi RJS,
What you are going through with your injuries is no picnic, and I understand your concerns regarding recovery/spreading symptoms which others like Littlepaw can help you address.
I was formulating a response while reading Littlepaw's comment about further info in your other Post, so I found that one, too.
I understand Chronic pain, many here do, and it can be an uphill struggle to find the right balance of pain meds to allow relief/quality of life. Give your new ones a chance, rarely do things take full effect immediately. Work with your Pain Consultant to get the levels YOU need.
I am also a cardiac problem sufferer, and yes, this adds to the stress and worry we have, especially if one is 'good' like you. I do not know the side-effects of Gabapentin regarding the heart, I had a severe allergic reaction to one tablet years ago when prescribed, but a quick Search should give you answers there.
Talking of stress and worry, you mention you are already Depressed. This is an all-to-common condition for Chronic Pain sufferers, and is the subject I find most important here. Depression makes everything worse, the pain, our outlook… It rarely goes away without some form of treatment, be it Talking Therapies or meds.
Have you discussed the way you are feeling with anyone? Family or friends, your GP or Pain Team (over here PM Teams sometimes have Psychologists/Counsellors)? If not, the Forums can be a safe place to start discussing Depression. Or I'm sure any member you connect with would be willing to converse via Private Message if you so chose.
I am here if needed.

Dave.

RJS,

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, where you have find a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

Hello just joined. I had a full hip replacement last year and since have had numb areas on lower leg and foot. My leg goes red and purple and swells as day goes on. Some areas are numb with no movement and others are hypersensative. Bang it and frankenstein reborn with electric jolt like pain. My dr wants me to have vascular asessment but what you describe is me. Hope I havent bored all

A vascular evaluation may be helpful.. If it turns out normal, then you need to find a doctor who understands RSD (CRPS)...
Here is our RSD forum link:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html
There is a stickie with a discussion and photo sharing...you might find the photos helpful:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread16167.html
The photos go from mild to severe.