Hi Linda,

Sorry you're having such a dismal time, I hope you can find something to give you some relief. HwRSD makes a good point. I'd try to find a replacement for the vicoden, which is an opioid, it often causes allodynia/hyperalgesia all by itself.

here's an extract from the really excellent article posted by Roz/Buckwheat which is at:
http://appneurology.com/showArticle....leId=196513289

"Although opioids are the gold standard for treating acute pain, their use is highly controversial in CRPS. "We know that opioids cause hyperalgesia," said Harden. "If you have a drug that causes hyperalgesia and a disease that is characterized by hyperalgesia, how logical is it to use that drug in that disease?" Oaklander agreed that it was theoretically possible for opioids to worsen CRPS, but she said that this should not prevent physicians from prescribing opioids for certain patients who have CRPS. She did, however, caution that the lowest effective dose should be used. Some pain specialists advocate the use of methadone for the management of CRPS, according to Cruciani. Another possibility is an opioid in combination with an NMDA antagonist such as memantine (Namenda)."

You never know, just replacing that might help somewhat,
all the best

Your head - - LOL - I know that feeling some days...

Sorry to hear about the spa therapy not working for you - I know it sure helped hubby - Thought it might be something but...no such luck it sounds like....Grrrrr - Wish I had an answer for ya...

How do the lidoderm patches work!!?? I'm thinking this is something we'd like to suggest to hubbies Dr. - With his ulnar nerve damage this might be something that could be really helpful for him.

thanks artist...i will take that to my dr and see what he says..he is not a big fan of using methadone as i have asked him for it in the past.... and he rejected it saying he doesn't want me on that...or dilaudid...says it is too strong???? i said"stronger than vicoden es?" i have cut down on that alot was up 10-12 per day... almost 2 every 4 hrs.. and functioned???

hubbywith rsd.....the lidoderm patches have helped more than anything they have tried so far..they come in large squares and you can cut them to fit most places..i get creative and use different colors of thin knee-high stocings(cut of course) to slide around the patch to keep it in place..it has the lidocaine on the peel back side..needs to make a good contact though...hope this helps hubbie....

Hi Linda,

Yes, do read the whole article, it's the very best overview of RSD I've ever read, and print it out for your doc - who sounds pretty OK, ...yes dilaudid, can't remember the details, but it can do nasty things to you... this is one piece of writing I think we should all take to the doc, actually.

The first year I had RSD was the worst (so far) and I was amazed at the huge gap there is in pain medication - the ones we're given by prescription just aren't strong enough, or they knock you out, but still don't work well (nothing actually exists to really do the job when it's in full flare)... or the ones that do work are the anaesthetic drugs used in hospitals, too strong. There's nothing in between.

Perhaps you should be looking at an intrathecal pump - did you read fmichael's link, about Prialt? Maybe take some research about that to the doc...

I wish you luck with everything, hope you find something soon,
all the best :

hi artist...last post i get to reply to tonight..steve comes home and the computer is his till at least 5 am. just hope i can sleep tonite can't seem to find my blindfolds.... i will bring article into dr visit tomorrow (neuro) she doesn't decide on most of my treatment but i will get her opinion too... they are really reluctant to to any further surgery on me....the consesus of all drs is that further surgery will injure me more...they say more soft tissue damage may be done..and the probalabity is high that it will...my dr has been up late for 13 yrs trying to come up with something that might benefit me...says my chances are not good...but then one day i might wake up and it will be POOF gone!!!! wishful thinking on all our parts but i am trying to be optomistic (for now -tonight- anyway)
thanks for your help and i will try to send an update tomorrow...peace to all***** linda

Good luck tomorrow - now get off the computer and get some rest!!
night night (it's lunchtime tomorrow, here! )

took a few days for me to get my stuff together after seeing the neuro. the appt was a complete waste of time...they have nothing to really do or say to me..appt was just for getting refills of meds.. brought in the articles that i copied from the site and the dr didn't have much to say... one good thing was she gave me more free samples of the provigil...i take 100 mgs in am and then another 100 in the afternoon...seems to be helping some..was told it may take some time to get the full benefit from it...been feeling very defeated lately..i am going to go to the support group that debbie reccommended...i am going to go back to work on the 21. can't stay home any longer..messing with my depression too much...the drs don't want me to go but i know i have to for as long as i can..until i know that i can't...i am fighting it cuz to me it is letting this disease beat me and giving up..i know rationally that i have little choice in the matter...what happens is what happens..doesn't make me weak..cuz i am trying so hard to keep it together..just don't want to do more damage to myself for being stubborn and hard-headed... anyway ....no more drs for a few weeks..need a break!!! thank again for caring...linda

Hey Linda,

Sorry to hear your appt didnt go as you wanted it to. My hubbies was the same way last time - It was like talking to a brick wall. The ONE saving grace is that he is only 1 of 5 Dr's he has - This one is the one who originally diagnosed hubby with nerve damage so we just need to see him for med updates and so he can "keep up" with him. Two of his other Dr's (they work as a team) diagnosed him with the RSD. They are in charge of his treatment there and we are talking with them in a week or so...Hubby also has had contact with him and he knows we're looking at some med changes. Maybe that patch??? And starting of blocks?? We're not sure yet but will know soon.

I hear ya when you mention work - It is driving hubby nuts not working - He tries so hard to get things done around the house but there is so much he cant do. He also cant drive due to this being in his arm and the meds he's on so that shoots work completely. He decided to do some volunteer work on Wednesdays. I'm available to drive him for that - It will get him out of the house and feeling useful again. I understand your feelings on that - You need to have a purpose and to feel needed and plain just have something to do. I'm betting going back will more then help your depression.

Hang in there girl, We're here for ya

Hi Linda,

Oh, how disappointing about the doc appt...how are you coping this week? You OK?
Just wondering,

all the best