I had my apt yesterday at Cleveland Clinic at the anesthesiologist. The doctor wants to put a tunneled epidural catheter so that I could take part in a vigirous pain rehab and do a lot of exercise. He said with my issue that I need to do a lot of movement. He said it needs to be treated like RSD though I don't have all the symtpoms some are similar and my tests do show peripheral neuropathy but regardless of the dx that needs to be the treatment. This was what the day program pain clinic said but I can't make it through the full day of rehab cause of my pain. Any opinion on this catheter which he said would be in for around 6 weeks? Also if I'm not doing that I want to do some kind of lower level rehab and have calls in to my old neuro and the pain clinic day program about a lower level rehab. I have been really pushing. I did errands today and a 15 minute slow walk. I need some daily direction though of what I need to do. I fear so much making it worse but the anesthesiologist said I really need to do more exercise then the normal which sounds like an insane task whether it be with the catheter or on my own with other meds. He also prescribed doxepin with my cymbalta.At the clinic I did pool therapy but was too much but am thinking of going again at a slower pace and also warmer water. The water there was cold and I heard not good. In pt before it was a bad experience and even at the program but I need to find someone to direct me because like today for the 15 minute slow walk I fear damage along with all the errands. DOes anyone here follow a certain activity program? I should feel hopefull about the progress I have made cause I was in bed all day if you guys remembered. I wish I could of made it through the pain program so the procedure would allow that but I fear the complications so I may want to try a lower level pt without that. The doc did say he wants me to be able to run so on though that I will never do but I would love to be more active and pain free. I want to be a normal 28 year old.Any thoughts or ideas?

Hello,
Your story sounds just like mine. I am 34 years old.
I just got the epidural catheter in two days ago. Oringinally, it was put in 4 weeks ago, but it moved out of place. They say that it is very unlikely that it will move. But, anyway, I got another one put in two days ago and it works great! I was diagnosed with RSD in the lower leg and foot after a lumbar fusion surgery in April 2008. The only downside of it is you can't take a bath or shower. Other than that I would go through with it. I go to therapy 3 times a week and I am actually walking around with no pain. I have three young children, so I need to be able to walk. Good luck and God Bless.

Avenger34

Hi. I thought I was loosing my mind cause I just posted another one on the rsd and then you responded.This post was from last year. Maybe it is a sign to get it? The doc I saw last month wanted to do this too. Anyhow the issue I am having is that they want me to do pt twice a day every day and that sounds extreme. I fear when it comes out that I will feel the back lash from all that pt. I really need to do something though cause my pain is unreal in a flare up again. Thanks for sharing yor story. I hope you continue to feel better. May I ask where you live and who did this for you? I am asking because I go to Cleveland Clinic and it seems that many people who go there get this done so am wondering now. Thanks for your reply. It was very sweet of you