NeuroTalk Support Groups - Hello, I am new and have a recent diagnosis of CRPS

3 weeks ago yesterday I had surgery on my foot to remove a neuroma that has plagued me for nearly 10 years.
I have horses ,and I could no longer tolerate riding very long, or even standing in a stall to groom. I couldn't walk with out a tremendous amount of pain. I could only wear one pair of shoes comfortably ( I'm sure you'll ask so I will tell you now...It was a pair of Sketcher Shape Ups, and I HIGHLY recomend them) So, I FINALLY opted to have the surgery.

The surgery is routine. I picked a very qualified doctor to perform it, after doing much research. I had it on a Friday and was supposed to be able to walk ( limited) right away. My plan was to go back to work the following MOnday, however that didn't happen.

Saturday morning I woke up with excruciating pain in the area where the nerve had been removed. It went on like this all weekend. I took my vicodin, but the thing was...my foot ONLY hurt if I tried to USE it. It never hurt at rest. Monday I called the doctor. He was afraid the bandage had become too tight, and advised me to remove the cohesive part of the bandage. I was to follow up with him on Wednesday. Wednesday came and there was no imporvement. The doctor is stumped. He says he has never had this happen in all the years he has been treating feet. He changes me to Darvocet. Again my foot only hurt when I attempted to walk on it. I did swell though, and had a fair amount of bruising, which of course we all contributed to being post operative and normal. The following week I was to see him again. This would be on a Monday. Still no significant improvement and the doctor is obviously worried at this stage. he leaves the office to do several telephone consults with other doctors, including an orthopedic surgeon. They all tell him to "wait and see". I am sure by this point, everyone who was NOT my doctor was assuming I was just being a baby. I, on the other hand, knew that I have an incredibly high pain tolerance. So what I was experiencing was NOT NORMAL! He changes me to Mobic, and says "lets give it till Monday and see what ahppens then." MOnday evening my foot is very swollen and red. I had developed POCKETS of fluid along the outside of my ankle. I iced it and went to bed.
The following day was more of the same. Tuesday eveing the pain was worse, and so was the swelling. I was sitting in the recliner and fairly suddenly realized that when I FELT like I was moving my toes...they were NOT responding! Then I realized that I could NOT flex my foot up. I tried like hell, but my foot wasn't moving and my ankle as turned to the side. I could not restore my foot to a normal position no matter how hard I worked at moving it! Of course I was freaking out, and imagining a life with out walking or Riding a horse again. Because I was in panic mode, and having a melt down, I waited until the following day to phone my Dotor.
We talked about a couple of different scenarios, and possible diagnoses. I told him about the inability to move my foot the night before ( which ironically I could move a little the following day). He called me back in two hours. He had spoken to a nerologist wtih experience in trating CRPS. He made me an appointment for the following day.
The neurologist looked over my foot, and was 90% sure we were dealing with CRPS. He said he had never seen it in such an early stage, and had high hopes that I would have a complete remission because it was caught so quickly. He perscribed Prednisone ( 60mg for 3mo) and calcium replacement via nasal spray.
It has been just over a week and in the past 4 days I have been able to put weight on my foot! It still feels electrified at times, but I have tried to convince my brain that I can beat this! In the past 2 days I have been able to walk ( VERY SLOWLY and somewhat painfully) with out the crutches.

I am to begin Physical Therapy on Tuesday.

I have terrible terrible pain ( i'd give it a solid 8) in my calf. I am not sure if this is a symptom of the CRPS or if it is from the lack of use in the past several weeks. Nothing seems to relieve it, and it almost feels like a giant muscle cramp. I have tried massaging it, and tub soakes...to no avail. ON a positive not, my foot feels GREAT compared to where I was with it just a week ago.

I am 32 years old. I am hoping to have complete remission! Does this happen? I am so thankful to God that this was caught early. I can't imagine the torture that goes along with having this daily, and infinitely.

Thank you so much for your site, and I will try to keep you updated!