I am brand new and finding it difficult to navigate around.... I just saw a dr.... re: spinal implant consult of St. Jude Model... and am very confused and concerned

Welcome, I am new also. Sorry I cannot answer your question, but I am sure someone here can. Hugs

Welcome to Neuro Talk. This site has lot of different forums. Just take your time with navagation. After three years I am still learning. Nothing you tap can hurt anything so go ahead and explore. You can answer any post you want.
I understand your both have CRPS or RSD. I have PN which isn't as painful, but not so good either. Lots of support here, and if you need questions answered just post them. Newest therapy I know about for this was done by our military, with infusions of Ketamine. Some remissions reported. Many folks who have the condition will answer you in time. You make some friends here for sure. I wish you all the best in the New year, and less pain. ginnie

Hello I am a Newbee...A quick BIO- I was in a car accident in 2008. Ended up with a very rare disorder in my right foot. Fast forward... too many surgeries & Ice Packs and I was sent to a Pain Specialist by my frustrated Foot Dr in 2009. After a triple Phase Bone Scan I was diagnosed with RSD. Kdoser

I have been reading posts on this site for the last 3 weeks when my insomnia and high pain kick in and have finally decided to post about how my diagnosis of CRPS came about.
I had 6 ankle/foot surgeries (same leg) in about a 12 year time span, The last surgery was a double arthrodesis. Did fine for about 5 years, then fell off the walkway to my house ( only 2" tall) and really twisted my ankle. Had the usual x-rays, MRI scans, in a boot for 6 wks, casted for 8 wks, still not healing.
I was then sent to a trauma surgeon who then told me I was in BIG trouble. Oh Yea ! When all was said and done, I went in to surgery#7 for 7+ hours, had 13 screws, 8 fractures, 5 bone fusions and now a triple arthrodesis.
Now I have no wt bearing for 16 wks, went in to get cast removed, bones not healing, 4 more weeks in cast. After that time he took the cast off and I started PT. Only allowed to WT bear in the pool. Well I spent 53 weeks in therapy, at the end I could wt bear/walk for 15 mins max with crutches. Next 3 visits to surgeon no change, x-rays a tiny bit better, the fusions did take well. So now I can walk 10 ft without crutches but need things to balance against, since I have no balance at all.
My surgeon sends me to an Anesthesia pain Dr. 4 weeks ago, after a physical and review of all tests, diagnosed with CRPS. I have had 3 lumbar sympathetic nerve blocks, and the 3rd block was a breakthru, 15 mins later you could see my blue foot actually get pink and instantly warmer.
So, where I stand( well no, actually sit in my wheelchair) I will have the nerve blocks once a weekfor now and started on Lyrica 300 mg day and have had good results with the nerve pain and burning. Unfortunately the deep i call it dark pain is still present, even with Tramadol 6x a day. So I am going to ask Dr about meds for the break thru pain. He wants to start PT again while I have the nerve blocks so that will probably start next week, My BIG concern now is that my left knee is now getting really stiff and if I flex to much painful, concerned that the CRPS is creeping up. So now for the past 18months I have been dependent on my wheelchair for any activities outside the house, and am very fortunate that I can get out of the house of course usually for Dr appointments.
Sorry for such a long explanation but this is my story.

If you ever need to talk or vent. This disease is not fun to have. It is good to surround yourself with others. That are suffering from this illness! LISAR624

If you ever feel like talking. Feel free to private message. I know how it feels when you are first diagnosed and you feel like venting to someone!! LISAR624

GOD bless you! Make sure you get diagnosed early. That is definitely key! If you are not happy with the first doctor try and find one that will help! Take care & Good luck LISAR

On 7/16/14, my right foot hurt above the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal. It also hurt to roll off the ball of my foot. At first, the pain dissipated with rest, but eventually, it started hurting all the time. It was diagnosed as a strained tendon by a primary care doctor (an orthopedist stated it was actually a stress fracture) and I was told not to walk on it, but not given any device to do this (even though I specifically asked for one). On 7/28/14, I was walking my dog home from the dog park, when I landed weird with my right foot on uneven, bowed up sidewalk. My right foot twisted inward (toward my left foot) and down the bowed up bump. I felt a pop and was in horrible pain. It was diagnosed as a stress fracture of the 2nd metatarsal. I was put on crutches on 7/29, non weight bearing. On 7/30/14, I was put in a walking boot and allowed to walk with the walking boot and crutches. By 8/2/14, I was in so much pain, I was crying. The on-call orthopedist thought I might have dislocated the fracture and put me back on crutches not weight bearing. I have been in horrible pain ever since.

On 10/6/14, I was diagnosed with RSD in my right foot by my orthopedist and sent to a pain management doctor. On 10/8/14, I had a second opinion with an orthopedist who also diagnosed me with RSD (there was conflicting diagnoses of whether my stress fracture had healed). On 10/28/14, I saw the pain management doctor to receive a lumbar sympathetic block. The pain doctor stated I did not have RSD and refused to do the block. A few days later, I developed cold pain and a cold right foot. On 11/6/14, I saw a 3rd orthopedist who is an expert in RSD and was again diagnosed with RSD. He told me I was not a good candidate for a nerve block. My condition has continued to worsen.

7/17/14 - started ibuprofen
7/29/14 - started tramadol and instructed to continue ibuprofen. put on crutches, non weight bearing
7/30/14 - put in walking boot and allowed to walk with boot and crutches
7/31/14 - developed a rash and severe itching from tramadol. pulled off and told to continue ibuprofen
8/2/14 - put on cyclobenzaprine. put back on crutches, non weight bearing
8/3/14 - started norco and stopped ibuprofen
8/13/14 - started perocet and continued norco
10/3/14 - taken off norco and percocet (not weaned off) and put on mobic
10/7/14 - developed severe side effects to mobic and pulled off. told to start ibuprofen
10/24/14 - put on nortriptyline and told to continue ibuprofen
10/27/14 - put on calcitonin nasal spray and told to continue ibuprofen
10/28/14 - put on gabapentin and told to continue ibuprofen, calcitonin, and nortiptyline
10/31/14 - Started PT
11/6/14 - put on acetaminophen and told to continue ibuprofen, calcitonin, nortriptyline, and gapabentin
11/14/14 - started mirror therapy and instructed to start walking very short distances in boot with crutches
11/19/14 - cleared to put weight on my right foot. starting walking without boot and with crutches at home, but still use crutches non weight bearing when outside home
11/25/14 - started neuropathic pain cream and continued all other treatments

The burning pain is better managed now and the muscle contraction (disfigured toe) has mostly resolved. The other pains (stabbing, throbbing, pins and needles, dull, ache, etc.) are also better managed. I still have stiffness in my toe joints, though it's better. The stiffness is starting to spread to the ankle. I am still sensitive to touch, though less often. The sensitivity and pain is starting to spread to my right ankle and leg. I still have swelling, though it is less than before. The skin discoloration is still frequent. My toe nails are slow growing, turning white, and peeling apart and things (fuzz from socks) get stuck on them. The toe nails are very tender to the touch. My right foot used to be hot all the time, but now it is very cold all the time and it makes the rest of me cold. The cold is painful and very uncomfortable. I'm starting to have insomnia. I am agitated, irritable, anxious, stressed, and more recently, depressed. I haven't been able to work all week due to depression (from PT telling me that all the gains I have made are really low and we still can't start any strength training, so I won't be fully recovered (walking) for 5 months) and the cold foot. I have been teleworking this whole time - doctor's orders. I see a therapist (mental health professional connected to the rehabilitation hospital I do PT in) on Friday 12/5 and a pain management doctor (a new one connected to the rehabilitation hospital I do PT in and am staring therapy in) on Wednesday, 12/10/14. I am hoping for relief from depression and the cold foot as soon as possible. I don't see my orthopedist RSD specialist until 12/17/14.

Sorry this was so long. I needed to write out all the details once. And it will be helpful for my new doctors.

I understand that, my doctors just told me to go read about it online when they first diagnosed me, didn't even really tell me what it was