Your best chance to kick this thing is in the first couple years so be sure to get good treatment now.

Hi Lynns,

Thank you so much for the suggestion for the minefulness link . Definately something I could use.
At this point not sure what caused the clot, but my doctor is setting an apointment for some test to check my clotting factors and also for some nerve test. I have also developed constant numbness in the right foot and intermittent numbness, spasms and electrical zaps (kind of like bee stings) thru out my body along with the burning pain.The limited range of motion, swelling, and burning pain, I have had since my accident Oct 14, 2004. I was a pedestrian crossing in a cross walk hit by a car. I was thrown quite a distance shattering my left shoulder, and severe knee/leg injuries. Had already been having some problems with left leg swelling and severe pain before accident after a 2003 neck surgery to repair collased C5,6 & 7 disks in my neck. But getting hit by the car really did me in all over. It wasn't until recently upon seeking a knee replacement that I was diagnosed by the orthopedic surgeon with CRPS Type 1, post-laminectomy syndrome, osteoarthritis, and adhesive capsulitis. He took one look at my severly swollen and purple blotched left leg along with MRI of both knees and told me that I didn't need a knee replacement it would not help, he told me that I had this incurrable disorder called RSD/CRPS and that unfortunately it I had gone undiagnosed for too long for them to offer me anything but pain management and PT. They say a nerve stimulator would not help me at this point. So I am on time released Morophine 10 mg every 6 hrs, Gabapenten 2400 mg per day, 600 mg Ibuprofen every 4 hrs. I insisted on trying TENS unit which I use 4-6 hrs a day, and I take Epsom Salt warm water soaks 3 x's a day. This regime has brought my pain levels down from 8-10 average to a 4-5 average. They say I need a wheel chair but can't afford one and I am not ready to give up to that yet anyway. Walking is difficult and painful but I use a cane for support just have to limit it to very short distances at a time. I try to keep positive but admit sometimes it's hard to do.
My battle plan for now is to gain as much knowlege about this disease as I can and try whatever seems logical. Most of the time I try to remain positive but there are those moments of discouragement & defeat, I just try not to stay there too long.
Anyway sorry for writing a book just really wanted to say thank you.

TJ

No worries TJ!

When you say nerve stimulator, do you mean a spinal cord stimulator? Because a TENS unit IS a nerve stimulator- it stands for transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation. And if that works for you, it can be a good indicator that something like a SCS would work for you- it is exactly the same technology except that the SCS is implanted inside of your spine. Hopefully that will give you a bit of hope!

Have all of your clotting factors checked out, for sure, if you are having clots- they can kill you dead really easily. My big goal of anticoagulant therapy is to prevent a stroke- that possibility scares the crap out of me. But if I take my meds the possibility is pretty remote.

And I'm glad that the mindfulness stuff seemed interesting to you- I truly believe that taking care of your state of mind is just as important as the physical part of things.

Hope this helps a bit!
Lynns