RSD?CRPS and surgery
 

Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum and I am looking for people to talk with about any surgery experience they have had since being diagnosed with RSD/CRPS. I am in a situation with a fractured sesamoid bone and was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS 4 months later. That was last year 7/2007 and my pain level is doing real well at this point. The surgery will be the only way for me to get my life back and to walking properly w/o a walking cast or these pads I need to put into my shoes to alleviate the pressure at the fracture site. But I am extremely terrified of the RSD/CRPS spreading and making my life worse than were I am at right now. The Drs. are willing but have suggested very strongly to not go through w/it. Any suggestions, help or experience would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!

Hi and Welcome Islandgirl,
I'm sorry if you have rsd. You'll find so many supporting and caring friends here on this forum. I can't believe how much I've learned by reading not just present posts, but by going back and reading as much as I can, including introductions.
No, to answer your question, I have not had surgery since getting RSD. I got RSD the day following surgery to my left breast to remove benign tumor from deep in breast and arm pit. The following day, my entire arm swelled at least doubled and had Dr. remove fluid two or three different times. Next thing I knew, my shoulder was frozen. The surgeon sent me to Rehab Dr. down the hall and then on to physical therapy. It kept spreading on to the other shoulder etc.-full body.
To answer your question, no, I have not had surgery. I have skin lesions, red bumps that turn to dark moles. I asked my Dr. who is a neurologist, pharmacologist, pychiatrist, if he would take them off. He said no, ( his malpractice insurance won't allow him to do any procedures on RSD patients) He had just purchased 3 skin disorder offices for different procedures. He had to go outside his regular practice to a different insurance company to get covered. There are a lot of surgeons that disclose to their patients the danger of getting RSD from surgery. My daughter is a court reporter and has covered this issue in court when the physcian failed to disclose the risks. She does malpractice suits.
Others will answer your question. and the common consensus is the risk of spreading rsd thru surgical procedures.
Most have said 'absolutely necessary' only. There are procedures to do if surgery is necessary. Someone more experienced than I would know.
I know before I go to dentist, they give me antibiotics, and use numbing gel and nitrous oxide mask. Afraid of getting it in my mouth.
Take care, and please know we are a caring bunch that try to be understanding, supportive, and really want to help. Loretta

Hi
 

I had a hip replacement after being dx with RSD and it was the biggest mistake i made- The rsd was only in my foot but now is spreading thru out my body. Stay away from surgery if possible

Deb

Do a search for rsd and surgery. From the medical literature I've read, having surgery doesn't have to equal spread and more pain. Someone else on another board mentioned surgery to fix a foot problem that is complicating her case. This is what I told her based on what I've researched.

As for being unable to have surgery, the good news is with the proper precautions before and after one can have surgery successfully with no spread or flare in pain. I've "seen" quite a few people around the web that really needed surgery for one thing or another and were fine. Have an epidural catheter with local anesthetic with or without pain meds at least 12 hrs before the surgery, then have the epidural in for 3-6 days after surgery to prevent a flare and hopefully any spread. When you keep the sympathetic nervous system "normal" it won't spread because the nerves don't flare up. All of this of course means a hospital stay of 3-7 days even for something that might be an outpatient procedure but it sure beats the heck out of what might happen without all the precautions!

You can have your doc do some of his own research as well. He'll like read some of the same medical articles I have. LOL Go to http://www.rsds.org/2/library/articl...ive/index.html and scroll down to the CRPS and Surgery part. There's a few articles there that are good. It's where I got my answer from and just condensed a part of it.

Hugs,

Karen

Islandgrl, I am responding to your post because I have been agonizing for the last six months about going through with a surgery knowing I have RSD in my left arm. I am terrified to go through with any surgery because of the fear of spreading RSD. I have had RSD for almost two years. It got it after I had my ulnar nerve moved in my left arm. I have RSD from hand to shoulder and into my neck. I took me almost two years to get it to calm down and I don't want to go through another serious flare if I can help it. I would like to keep it just to those areas if at all possible. However, as luck would have it, I have a fairly large bone tumor growing in my right hand. It was found by accident just one year ago when a hand surgeon wanted to see how much bone loss I had in my left hand from the rsd. And there it was, this big, black hole on the x-ray in my right hand. These tumors are called enchondromas. They typically are not cancerous but they can turn into cancer given enough time...

I have seen several doctors since and all of them (except one neurosurgeon) has recommended I remove this tumor. This will be a big deal because it will require a bone graft from my wrist. I am now seeing the tumor pop out of the bone in my hand and it is starting to hurt. It hurts to hold things or to put any weight on my hand at all.

I have been to the Cleveland Clinic and that is where I shall do the surgery if I elect to go through with it. They are the only group of doctors I have found who are experienced in working on RSD patients. I have another appointment next month with Dr. Michael Stanton-Hicks to determine how to block the arm, what type of precautions to take, etc. He is the only doctor I have seen who sees RSD patients on a regular basis. I am so scared I can't even put it into words because I know the risk I take by having a surgery on my upper limb of all things (which is the most likely place for a spread).

I can't advise you what decision to make except to say I can so empathize with what you are going through and the fear and anxiety that comes with this situation. I suggest making a trip to CC to see Dr. Hicks or to see another RSD specialist before going through with any surgery to your leg. At least learn how the experts would block the leg and what precautions they would take to reduce the risk of a spread.

I know what this decision is like - stuck between a rock and a hard (very hard) place. Good luck.

Lisa

Thanks
 

Hi Loretta,
And, I too am sorry that you have RSD - it is quite something isn't it??? So much to contemplate and deal with. I must say that I am one of the lucky ones so far (my fingers and toes are always crossed) that hasn't had any spreadage and that is why I am so reluctant to surgery - even though I have been told about the precautionary measures.
The PM I see can hardly believe it, as do I. My husband has known about RSD for sometime now due to the fact that his closest co-workers son has been dealing w/it for over 15 years now and his is very extreme - he is doing the ketamine treatments. They didn't know anything in our area then. I also travel an hour to see the right professionals (as this area is "green" as my one Dr. I found said) and I am going to get another opinion or two before I go through with the surgery, if at all. I have seen both sides of the advice - same say yes, some say no, that they wish they never had and that is not where I want to be.
I appreciate you taking the time to contact me and I wish you all the best in your journey - be in touch anytime. You are right about the support here so far in 1 day it has been great - :-) Take Care - Robin

Thanks
 

Hi Deb,
Thanks for contacting me about your experience - I am so sorry to hear what happened to you - that is what I fear the most and why I am so reluctant. May I ask - did you have all the precautionary procedures before, during & after?? I wish you all the best and hope and pray that you find some much needed relief - it is a long road dealing with this. Have you tried and I am sure you have any anti-depressants - I am having pain relief with them - and still do the neurontinas well. Take care...Robin

Thanks
 

Hi Karen,
Thank you for posting for me on this subject. My question to you is - have you had any surgeries with RSD present in your body???

I know about Scott Reuben all too well - I have probably read everything I have found on his research. I would love to be closer to Boston to be in their clinic - although, it still isn't completely out of my mind. The hospital I am dealing w/is very well educated and all these precautions will take place - it is still a very hard decision to make because if it doesn't work there is no turning back. I have heard from people that it doesn't work for everyone. But, as my sister-in-law said - I will never know untill I try it. Easy for anyone who isn't living it and knowing how bad it can get to say that.
I hope that you are one of the many tried and true cases - that gives hope!!!

Hugs back at ya,
Robin

Hi Robin,

I'm so happy to hear that you were able to get quick timely treatment for your rsd keeping it at bay. That being said I understand what you are going through in the decision to have surgery. It was not one I made easily as I always believed that if it is not life threatening than those of us with RSD should never have surgery.

I have been in post-surgery recovery following a surgery in my rsd foot this past August. It was a need to do surgery!

During a bunion surgery in 2002, 3 screws were placed in my foot. I developed RSD immediately and they did not want to remove the screws for fear of further complications. The screws were ultimately causing a vicious cycle of pain and RSD flare ups. After each lidociane treatment, every 3 weeks, I would regain full range of motion in my RSD foot. That would place a fairly significant amount of pressure on my foot and the screws became loose causing more pain. (yes I'm the girl with a couple of loose screws)

To date I'm doing very well. 2 weeks ago I cancelled a series of 3 scheduled lumbar sympathetic blocks because quite frankly I'm doing better than I was before I had the screws removed. Following the surgery I received a 7 day continuous peridural anaesthesia treatment in Germany. Upon my return home I received IV lidocaine infusions, once each week up until the end of October. I am now back to a 3 week schedule for my lidocaine infusions, my pm dr does not think I should go any longer than that without another treatment. I still have good days and bad, feeling great one moment and than crashing with rsd pain the next. Despite those pain spikes overall my pain levels are fairly stable ranging between 1 -3 on average. I can't take most RSD meds due to sever reactions so I'm limited to Tylenol 3's and Ibuprophen I can't take anything for the burning pain, the lidocaine helps me with that. 1 month ago I started to take an enzyme called Serrapeptase and I have been feeling great ever since. I don't know if it is the enzyme or the intense lidocaine therapy my dr gave me that helped me turn the corner but what ever it is Í'll take it and keep it.

I am happy I went through with the surgery and had the screws removed (they were only able to get 2 out of the 3). I believe my quality of life will be better in the end despite all my fears. I'm happy to be seeing the other side of life and RSD post surgery.

I have posted my experience on other threads related to RSD and surgery, if you wish to discuss further please PM me.

I'm wishing you all the very best as you go through this and hope you are able to get all the answers you need to make the right decision for you.

MsL

surgery
 

I am very nervous about having surgury because I have several other diseases that I have had before i got RSDS. I want to have a hysterectomy to get rid of my Endometriosis and my PCOD. If anyone else has any suggestions...please let me know...

Hi rsdslade and welcome!
I have rsd also. I'm sorry you do too. I've had it for 12 years and it would be terrifiying to have surgery. If I absolutely had to have it, I would go to a Dr. and hospital experienced. I've head of CC and Hicks.
I had to have a hysterectomy due to polyps causing excessive bleeding. My Dr. did a vaginal hysterectomy. I couldn't believe re recovery time so different from my C-section.
Has your Dr. discussed Vaginal surgery versus incision surgery? There is a big difference as far as recovery. One would seem less invasive, I don't know. But is that an option?
Wish you the best whatever you decide. Your friend, Loretta

Hi There!

Sorry to hear you are having to contemplate surgery with your RSD - I have been in the same boat so to speak. I will be having surgery this coming Wednesday on my knee where I had my knee replaced last year. Unfortunately, this is also where my RSD is, besides my foot on the same leg. It was a very hard decision, but after meeting with several Ortho surgeons, my pain management dr, and the anesethia dept - I felt this was the only way I could progress with getting my knee to bend. I have arthrofibrosis in my knee replacement, which is not letting me straighten or bend my knee. I cannot work, drive, or do much of anything due to the knee and RSD. The Ortho doc now also feels that the disk in the artificial knee is too large for my knee, and wants to replace it with a smaller one. This should help eliminate some of my pain, and improve my mobility. My main concern was I didnt want any more pain from the RSD , or the RSD to spread. I feel that I have made the only decision I could, as there is nothing more at the moment the drs can do to help me improve my knee except for the surgery. RSD has taken so much from me and my family since I have come down with it. I feel I have made an educated decision in having the surgery by researching and talking to many physicians, and will not let RSD keep me from it, even though it scares me. I suggest you talk to as many drs as you can and weigh the facts. For me, they will be inserting a femoral nerve block for 5 days, besides a spinal block in hopes to keep the RSD from flaring up. I may be wanting to run from the hospital on Wednesday (hehe, as if I could run), but I am hoping this is a "new beginning" in a way to start improving my knee. Good luck to you in your decision and keep in touch!

Surgery with RSD
 

Hi Islandgirl,

I have had RSD for I can't believe it will be 5 years this January. I have had 3 major and 1 minor surgery since being Diagnosed. Each time I had a surgery ketamine was used as part of the anestheisa(spelling) to keep the RSD at bay which was dictated by my Pain Mgn. Dr. I was lucky because my surgeon and PM Doc work in the same hospital. I am one who has done the 5 day awake version of ketamine w/boosters. At this point in my experience my RSD is calm and some what under control in the original area unfortunately I have had an additional fall and hurt my back the s1 and s2 area and right now that is giving me more trouble then the RSD. I have heard of have epidurals before surgery to keep the RSD at bay but I don't have any experience with it. I would bring it up with your surgeon and anestiologist(spelling) and talk about it in detail. I have seen post on this site where doctors don't take any precaution which I believe is not the correct way to handle it. To some up I don't believe any of my additional surgeries effected my RSD. Everyone is different but some intervention should be done prior to surgery when having RSD. My surgeon felt that my PM Dr was making a big deal his quote was that "is was like killing a fly with a hammer". But I am grateful he insisted because I was really fine after the surgeries.

Good Luck,

Gabbycakes

Surgery After RSD Diagnosis
 

I am new so please bare with me. New to such a group and the posting too. I still can't figure out how to post a new question!

But to respond to your question, I had minor hip surgery after the dx of CRPS in the lower, right leg. I did not know of any of the pre-procedure techniques several of you mentioned and therefore had none performed. Maybe I'm just lucky or it just hasn't decided to spread from the leg to the thigh - yet. It have been over 6 months and so far so good. I distract myself from even the thought of spreading.

However, I agree with some of the stated opinions that unless it is really, really necessary it be probably best not to take the risk. CRPS/RDS is too fickle a disease to play a game of chance.

Best Regards

Beachedsiren:)

Posting a new thread is the easy part! On the front page,look at the top, right above the postings and there is a button labeled New Thread. Click on that and you're on your way to posting your 1st post! :D

Hugs,

Karen

Hi Beachedsiren and welcome!

Sorry to hear about your rsd, but very good news you didn't have spread with the surgery. How long have you been diagnosed? It was 4 years for me and that was 8 years ago. I am from Oregon, where I now know I got rsd following surgery. There are a couple of people on this forum from Oregon. We moved away and was misdiagnosed. I was finally diagnosed back in Oregon.

This is a great group of compassionate rsders. I have personally learned a lot and been greatly encouraged by others. And Hopefully have been able to do the same. Take care, Loretta Jewell

I developed RSD not from the fracture in my foot, but from the surgery to fix the fracture that never healed (3 months after the break). I did have the screws removed from my foot about 9 or 10 months later because the screws were digging into things and rubbing up against nerves. They seemed to be perpetuating the problem. There was a bit of a flare immediately following surgery, but after some blocks, continued PT, HBOT, etc, things have calmed down a lot. I've also been big into supplements and natural treatments, too. I still have RSD, but it is way better than when it was first diagnosed (I've had it for about 15 months). Good luck with your decision. I know it's difficult.

Here is the main page link of the RSD forum -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

To make a new thread look for the "New Thread" button above and below the list of threads.

I've had rsd for over 8 years and had a hysterectomy last June, where they hooked me up to a ketamine drip at the start of the operation, which I stayed on for 7 days, and I also had the morphine button for 3 days, and endones as needed. As a result, my pain levels stayed pretty low while I was in there and the surgery didn't affect my rsd.

Also I had a c/section with a spinal block 2.5 years ago (no ketamine) and that didn't worsen my rsd in the longterm, either. I did have a flare up after the operation and was on continual endones afterwards for about a month, but the rsd didn't spread or stay at that level long term.

If you can get your pain specialist to work with your other specialist you'll get the best outcome. For my hysterectomy, my pain specialist and his team were in charge of all my pain medications and so the nurses and other doctors had to answer to them, rather than my gynocologist. If I asked for 20mg of endone instead of 5mg, they gave it to me no questions asked, as they knew my pain is different to what you'd normally get after that operation.

I'm sure that all their preventative measures stopped my rsd from spreading or getting worse. I wouldn't have had the operation if I wasn't totally confident that they'd give me whatever pain relief I needed, and I'm very relieved and grateful it all went so well.

I hope it all goes well for you, too

x Kate

Hi.

I also have RSD and have had 2 major surgeries. I needed my tonsils removed for medical reasons and just had a spinal cord stimulator implanted. For both surgeries, the only spreading I saw was in my other arm - I think because of the IV's. Otherwise, I didn't have any specific issues of spread.

I do realize that everyone is different. It is very individual and there is no way of predicting.

Deb, Thank you for your post. I am so very sorry for your RSD proliferation. My prior question was about, exactly your issues. I am so sorry that your experience had to occur, but at the same time, I am pre-2nd surgery looking for so many answers, so I am, in a very guilty way, eternally thankfull for your sharing your experience. I wish you the best!

Dubious

Be careful about the sesmoidectomy as well, if that is what they are considering. I know of someone who had that same surgery and was far worse after it. Good luck!

Not recommended but
 

Surgery is not recommended for an RSD patient, and I believe surgery caused my spread. Now, having said that, I have to tell you I have had 2 major surgeries after Full body RSD and did not suffer any other consequences.
This has to be an informed decision between you and your doctor. Also, you also have to weigh the odds in your particular situation. This is a decision best made by you, your doctor and your family. Can you get HBOT (and of course blocks before and after) after surgery, is another question you might ask? Hugs and all the best to those who are in the situation. Diana

Thanks Karen,
Which doctor would be the one to decide about before and after treatments? Currently I am only seeing my family physician and the orthopaedic surgeon. My problem is that I have no insurance, did not qualify for medicaid because I have not been approved for disability ( 7 months wait here in VA) and now have no income. I had to reduce my existing resources to poverty level in order to qualify for Medicaid and then was denied. I am only having hip surgery because I qualified for Charity Care through the hospital. I still have to pay for surgeon, anaesthesiologist, and any other disciplines than are involved who bill separately from the hospital. Thankfully, my church family is supporting me quite a bit financially and in other ways. I don't know if the hospital's financial assitance program would pay for all of the before and after treatments you recommend. I think I will give your recommendations to my orthopaedic surgeon anyway and see what comes of it. I have my post-op appointment on Monday and surgery is scheduled the following Monday.

Ginny

Hi there. I have to respectfully disagree with Diana on this point, if appropriate precations are taken. Please check out Mslday's response to a posting I put up the other day, regarding a very successful surgery she had last summer in Germany. (She's posted on it earlier.) The German doctor call it "peridural anesthesia for the lower limbs." Sadly, she says that in Germany, it's now regarded as the "gold standard" for treating new (accute) cases of CRPS. After being on this forum and it's predecessor for years, I can't tell you how much sorrow that fills me with, watching newly diagnosed patients or their parents doing everything in their power to find adequate treatment:

"For a GREAT article on the subject, written for the general reader, see, "The Painful Truth: The Iraq war is a new kind of hell, with more survivors - but more maimed, shattered limbs - than ever, a revolution in battlefield medicine is helping them conquer the pain," by Steve Silberman, Wired, Issue 13.02 - February 2005 http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1...ain&topic_set= The story tells the tale about how one anesthesiologist from Walter Reed revolutionized the treatment of horrific battlefield injuries, all by pumping local anesthetics into the site of the wound. "

Hi Mike,

Great article. This is the same technique I was given following my surgery in Germany this past summer. I had the pump going continuously for 1 week. German doctors consider this the "gold standard" for treating newly diagnosed RSD cases and have been using it with great success for years (they call it a peridural anesthesia for the lower limbs). For the upper limbs my doctor said that they can access the nerves through a spot somewhere in the neck area. I'm happy to see that it is finally making its way to North American hospitals because it will make a huge difference.

MsL

In any event, the entire thread is at http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread72276-2.html if you want to check out some of the other references I posted, basically the same stuff GalenaFaolan referred to in her post on this thread on November 10, 2008, which has apparently been overlooked.

Mike

Dear Michael,

On a serious note, does she have her life back. Or just the SX relieved????

Hugs, Roz

Dear Roz -

Unfortunately, this isn't a cure for CRPS unless given in the acute stage. (And the tragedy is that it's not being used in this country for that purpose, notwithstanding the fact that doctors usually have ample opportunity to do so.) What it is, however, is a pretty good way of preventing it from getting worse because of subsequent surgeries. So it's my understanding that the person in question, although not better, didn't see any aggrevation in her symptoms as a result of the surgery on what I believe was a CRPS affected extremity.

Mike

Further to Mikes comments I actually do have my life back, I was out shoveling snow and had no major problems. I'm not cured, but I am substantially better than I was before I had the surgery. It is believed that the screw that was placed between my 1st & 2nd metatarsal was the main cause of my RSD (why an orthopedic surgeon would place a screw in a foot like that is beyond most medical reasoning but that's another story). My body is still healing, recent x rays show osteoporosis is still evident in the area of trauma but my bones are strengthening and my RSD symptoms are very mild now.

Mike is right, sadly this treatment is not being offered to patients in the acute phases of RSD. My doctors in Germany were very surprised I had never been offered it here in Canada. When I explained this procedure to my PM Dr after I returned home, he replied defensively that he only has 4 bed for the whole of the province of BC. Honestly I think it is because he isn't familiar with the procedure. I am truly happy to see it being used for the injured soldiers, lets hope the knowledge gets transferred to other medical professionals so it can be used more widely. The anesthesiologist who gave me the continuous "peridural" block serves part time with the German Navy helping with the injured from Iraq. I was very happy to be in his expert hands.

MsL

I happily stand corrected! (And am thrilled to here of your continuing recovery. Clearly your RSD was being aggrevated by the screw. One wonders how many of us have such "reversable" conditions.)

Mike

peridual anesthesia
 

MSL,
May i ask you what is peridual anesthesia?
Would you please clarify?
Numb

ketamine drip and morphin button
 

Hi,
I forgot who post this but i want you to tell me more about the ketamine drip and morphin button. How is the ketmine drip being administer, is it through the IV? and what about the morphin button?
Please inform and thanks,
Numb

Sorry for my late reply, I just saw your question now. I'll try my best to explain the "peridural" anesthesia.

The day following my surgery in Germany this past August, I was given a 7 day continuous "peridural" anesthesia with Bupivacaine and an opiate.

Doctors don't seem to know what a peridural is here in North America. In Germany it is considered a "gold standard" treatment for newly diagnosed RSD patients with great success.

It is similar to an epidural except that the catheter is slightly bent and so instead of it paralysing me completely from the waist down, this bent catheter gives direct access to the sympathetic nerves of just my left leg. It should not paralyze that leg completely and the drs slowly increase the medication until maximum pain relief is reached. There is the risk of losing control of bladder and bowel functions so they carefully increased the dosage until I was pain free but still able to stand. I was not allowed to get out of bed on my own (even though I could walk).

The first attempt to insert the catheter actually got my right leg (opps), completely paralyzed it with the lowest dosage so they had to reposition the catheter. It was interesting to see that the same amount of medication that paralyzed my normal right side barely even affected my left rsd side. They had to increase the medication by more than double of that given at first to my right side to reach the maximum benefits of pain relief.

I am doing very well now, was it the peridural, the ongoing Lidocaine infusions I get or the fact that the offending screws were finally removed from my foot? I will never really know that answer completely.

What I do know is that while I am 10 times better than before the surgery I do still have RSD, albeit mildly. Sadly it was told to me that because I have had the RSD for so long it was very unlikely that I could be cured with the paridural treatment. The reason we did it was to mitigate the risk of rsd spread from a surgery on the rsd affected limb and I think that was definitely accomplished.

Fortunately it is a treatment that can help those newly diagnosed and or those of us who have to go under the knife again.

MsL

Why
 

Hi MsL
I do not understand why these procedures and precautions are not taken here in the USA for everyone - if it truly works for all of us dealing with this unfortunate condition why can't the world come together for the sake of good. I do know that were I am being treated that they are well aware of preventions and precautions but, am not sure to what extent as I haven't gotten that far yet - I am still deciding about going through w/the surgery and haven't discussed all the factors yet.
I am being asked to wait a bit longer for more pain-relief from my meds and other things considered such as waiting until the summer and the warmer weather. And, I am sure that they want you to be totally sure about going through w/it as the consequences are always there. Everyone THANKS for all your input and experiences - greatly appreciated!! :) :grouphug:

Why?
 

That is a good question Island Girl.

Another good question is why did I have to go all the way to Germany to be properly taken care of? I lived through 6 years of burning hell with every step I took and not one doctor here would help me fix the problem. They all said she has RSD, we don't want to touch her. It's too dangerous! It will make her RSD 10 X worse. Well they were wrong!

When I told my pm doctor here what the German doctors did for me, that they consider it the gold standard of treatments, he just shrugged his shoulders and complained that he only has 4 beds for the pain program that treats the whole province. Even worse there is a 2 to 3 year wait list to get into this Pain Clinic so if your newly diagnosed with RSD here forget it. A very sad state of affairs.

Personally I think there is quite a divide in the medical profession when there is a language barrier, perhaps this is why some information is not known or shared or taught. I was very happy to see that this procedure is now being used preemptively for injured soldiers in the Iraq war. It could save them from developing rsd.

Of interest to note, the Ketamine treatments, coma and awake, started in Germany and were introduced to us here in North America through Dr. Schwartzman's association with those doctors in an academic research program. Perhaps the international barriers to medicine are lifting, but it is hard for those of us who are lay persons to really know why.

I know this is a big decision for you to make and I'm happy to know you are being well cared for. Summer is definitely a better time if one does have to go through surgery. :)

I wish you much peace and good health what ever you decide to do.

MsL

hi,
I also am new to this forum as of today - I was dx w/rsd 6/2008 and I too am concerned about surgery as I've been told I would benefit from a release of my fingers on rt hand as they are very contracted but first needed to have a neuro-transmitter inserted - I too wondered about surgery as my doctor as told my primary md that he really did not want to do it - by the way, does anyone know a doctor in atlanta that has good knowledge about this condition - by the way, i woke from surgery with stiff fingers, swelling and no use of entire rt arm -

Hi MsL,
Thought you might be interested in Dr. Schwaratzman, Dr. Harbut, Dr. Correll, a German Dr. a Austrailian Dr. Did that research program regarding Ketamine here in Scottsdale, Arizona at the Mayo Clinic. My girlfriend work with them in typing up notes etc. After the study was over, some set up a practice in Page, Arizona and then after that went on to Philly. I did call Dr. S in Philly a few years ago, but the wait list was too long. Thank you for all your good, encouraging information. I'm so happy for you and your outcome in Germany. Your friend, loretta