can I beat CRPS from my home in New Zealand?
 

Hi there! I had a nasty accident 4 months ago in which I ruined my right knee! I ruptured 2 key ligaments, broke tibia and smashed meniscus. I've been in leg brace for 8 weeks then hobbling on crutches and physio twice weekly. two weeks ago I was diagnosed with crps ( doc called it 'original pain syndrome'). The knee is massive, super sensitive to touch, feels mostly like there's a metal band clamped round it with a 50 pound weight attached! Sometimes the weight feels like ice. It doesn't even feel like it's part of my body! The thing that reminds me it's mine is the grinding constant pain and feeling of a hot knife being stuck in and rotated - ouch! Doc prescribed low dose smutty to in, antidepressant that should help reduce pain, and Catapress patch on knee to reduce blood pressure/circulation in knee & thus reduce swelling. He says this will help me to get more mobile and retrain the brain into thinking it's all good. This all sounds so weird, and as I'm still in pain/knee is still big swollen and heavy I wonder if I've much chance of this working? Can't help thinking that here in New Zealand we might not be so up with the play on this condition as elsewhere? I feel quite low (ironic in view of antidepressants!) and long to be free from this pain and immobility. Love to hear from anybody! Cheers from down-under!

Nice to meet you!!
 

Thank you!
 

Darlene, what a nice supportive welcome! This seems to be a great place to have stumbled into and I feel I'll be amongst friends, waving back at ya from way down in the South Pacific:):):)