Does your pain med give you or increase your depression?
 

If so what pain med have you found to have least amount of effect in causing depression?

Hi,
 

Most all of the pain meds did cause more depression for me. The only one that didn't was the Methadone. It actually made me feel like getting out and doing things. My dosage was very low but it did the job.

As far as depression meds, I couldn't take them either. Prozac and Zoloft made me more suicidal and I just couldn't take the others.

I do believe a lot of the pain meds do add to the depression. It does come though with the RSD, it just multiplies with the pain meds.

Ada

Good morning dreambeliever, I can only speak for my wife in that she received no help in controlling her pain when she was diagnosed with RSD. This lasted almost 4 years and was was losing it rapidly towards the end. That all changed when two doctors named Doctor Quint and Doctor Chin aggressively put forth a plan to control her pain using pain meds first, then other meds, PT, ketamine, lidocaine etc, Suzy has been able to cope a thousand fold. These doctors saved her life. :)

Hi Jim,
 

I honestly believe that the key to dealing with RSD are two things. Finding the right Drs., which is a feat in itself and learning all you can yourself about the RSD when you have it and use that knowledge to help yourself.

When my PCP couldn't diagnose me with TOS and RSD and the Drs. he sent me out to other Drs who couldn't, he ask me if I would buy a computer and help him diagnose me. It took us 3 years to finally figure out the TOS. My PA snapped his fingers when I told him and said he should have thought of it. He was a genius too.

I have worked my butt off to get better. I have ran up on Drs. that got mad at me because of what I knew, but the ones that were ok with my help, I still have.

I didn't just have the RSD to deal with though so we had to take things one at a time to get them better. My PCP is always saying," let's take one thing first". We get it calmed down and then start on the next. The RSD was the hardest though.

I was losing it too. I was to the point of suicide. The pain is overwhelming for us.

I'm glad your wife has you and the good Drs. to help her. That's what we need to get there.

Ada

Ada
I wasn't sure if I was understanding your post correctly - are you saying that your doctor asked you to buy a computer and essentially do your own diagnosis or help him to diagnose you? Three years later when you figured it out he actually told you that he should have thought of that diagnosis?

I appreciate that you may feel indebted to this person becuase you did get a diagnosis but if I have understood your post correctly I am stunned - that is breathtaking gross medical negligence in any country!

I hope that I have just misunderstood you - please tell me.

Hi,
 

What I said is that he sent me out to Drs. that couldn't diagnose me and since he and my PA only had only one case each of TOS in their 20 years each they had trouble diagnosing the TOS. TOS is as hard to diagnose as RSD.

As far as being indebted to my PCP, I know I am. The man got me surgeries when I couldn't pay for them, he took care of me 5 years free due to me not having any insurance, once we got the diagnoses, he knew where to send me and what to do. He sent me to Neurologist, Ortho's and other Drs. and none of them could diagnose my TOS. I've had 24 surgeries in 15 years to deal with cancer issues, TOS, other arm issues and lots of tumors inside of me. I have no doubt what I owe him. He took care of Bill also and was friends with him. He spoke at Bill's funeral, he takes care of my kids and grandkids.
I consider him one of the smartest Drs. I have ever met.

It is not gross negligence. How many Drs. have you seen that couldn't diagnose the RSD? Don't we hear that all of the time on here? How many of the people on here have been able to diagnose themselves with RSD due to no Dr. being able to do it? It happens.



Ada

What my wife and I witnessed dealing with the diagnoses and treatment of RSD from many doctors, Ada's computer episode is tame in comparison. It was shear hell for my wife and unbelievable for me to fathom. I was totally dumbstruck. The search for compassionate knowledgeable doctors took years to seek out. Almost every doctor we went to said they treat RSD only to find out they don't because it became very obvious.

Hi Jim,
 

I believe there are two reason's Drs. don't want to treat RSD. It is a time consuming disorder and narcotics have to be used to help a person. A person has to be seen often if they are on narcotics and some Drs. are afraid to even give them nowadays due to the laws they are governed by.

It is a matter of finding the right Drs. that are willing to go through it with you. I'm glad your wife did. We sure can't get through it by ourselves.

I'm glad mentally she is doing better. That means she is finding her way back from the beginning of the trip with RSD.

Ada

You are correct of course. I also believe strongly ones health insurance policy helps motivate a doctor's course of action or non-action. A few years ago not far from me in Mclean, Va. a well known pain doctor was thrown into jail because a couple of bad patients were caught selling prescribed drugs on the street prescribed by him. This hampered Suzy's treatment big time. The doc won his appeal and was released from prison after a couple of years.

Ada,
I agree completely,
I spent Seven incredibly painful and frustrating years and saw over 100 doctors trying to find out "What was wrong with me". I have a tape recording (pocket recorder) of an orthopedist, telling me that I was "Malingering" because I hadto be cured with everything he did.

Years went by. I got to the point that I started "Interviewing" doctors, asking them questions, and just walking out, because I'd been there, done that. "Ya got no clue!"

Finally, Finally, a Chiropractor whom I saw up to 5 times a week, recognized RSD from another patient who was seeing Dr Schwartzman. This Chiro, Got on the phone, and BEGGED me an appointment, SOON!
BAM!
That was it. RSD & TOS, but, Dr S, sent me to the Hand Center @ Jefferson, to Dr Jim Hunter, to confirm the TOS.

I just broke down in tears when Dr S told me he "Knew what I had".
(Not because I wanted it, but I had a non supportive spouse, two children and a business to run). I was doped up on stupid meds that weren't strong enough and had too many side effects. (Thank God for the Methadone). I was So Happy to "Not Be Going Crazy"!

A Good University Hospital setting is Always your best first bet, nowadays.

After I got my TBI, I was away from my current doctor who is wonderful.
Small town USA. Went to see a new Doc.
I took him my records, and my med bottles. He was an RSD "expert".
I needed my methadone! (that, is one of the worst things about it, you don't just STOP taking it!):eek:
He must've thought I was drug seeking. I asked him to call Dr Knobler, my hands were so mottled, and dripping sweat onto the floor. He denied any sweat, and any mottling.

It's a VERY Difficult atmosphere out there to find help for this disease!

Personally, I don't want a Roger Ramjet doctor who's gonna operate, install a pump, take out some ribs. No.
I want a compassionate, educated, understanding doctor who will treat me as conservatively, and effectively as possible. Because, this is a LifeTime Experience! Don't forget that.:(

Thanks Ada!

Pete
Asb