I am a 50 yr old single mother of a six year old little boy. My life was going along great, had wonderful job, and a beautiful little boy, he and I were active bike riding, hiking, swimming, rafting until June 28th of this year, my life changed drastically on that day and will never be the same again. Since then I have lost my job, and been denied long term disability ( insurance comp said pre-existing condition ) lost the apartment we lived in, and had to move back in with ex-husband to survive, I am currently waiting for decision to be made for social security disability..... I had neurosurgery on June 28th,2007, this was my third neurosurgery first two were done in 2005. Due to degenerative arthritis in my neck that is destroying most of my cervical bones. I felt very confident going into my surgery in June, having already had the other two that went great, I assumed this one would be the same, I was incorrect. The surgery in June was done posterior through the back instead of the front as the prior two had been. The neurosurgeon nicked my #5 nerve , which caused me to loose all movement in my right arm. Had 6 weeks of in home physical therapy and regained movement, I then started out pt physical therapy, my pain that used to be in my cervical area started to spread to all of my joints, since arthritis was the cause of cervical problems originally, thought that was the reason for all the joint pain I was having. After 7 weeks of out patient PT, my PT told me that there was no more he could do for my at this time, that the extent of my nerve damage was severe and that was the cause for my pain that was spreading rapidly throughout my body. Went to my neurosurgeon and described my pain, he then told me that I had CRPS, and referred me to a neurologist for a EMG, he also started me on Neurotin and Nortryptline. Went two weeks ago for my first visit with the neurologist, told him that my neurosurgeon had thought I had CRPS, he said he had never heard of it and that I should have no pain at all from the surgery in June, by the time I left his office I felt very frustrated and like he thought I was a hypochondriac, I am scheduled for my EMG next week, once that is done I will be looking for another neurologist one who knows about CRPS. That's my story, and I am very grateful for the information I have received from this website, it's nice to know I'm not the only one....Jane