I have it in my left leg and hip. Along with a torn hamstring and Piriformis Syndrome...yada, yada. All I have to say is that MY ***** HURTS! (Just thought you could relate...) Hope everyone is semi-pain free. Had a nice Thanksgiving; and looking to go bankrupt for Christmas!!! To all of us in the colder climates...please have my sympathies (HMMM, I guess THAT is where "Sympathetic" comes from!) Hope all is well with all of you!

(Hehe!) Just tryin' to have some fun!

Hey no kidding...We finally got our first snow fall. Broke the ole record of going this late in the year without snow. 1871 was the date,,,I believe this will enhance the discomfort that will follow after the first step outside.
Talk about fun....Trying to convince your mind that the eyes are playing tricks on the rest of the body.
I for one don't like the holidays without snow. As for the cold, our single digits aren't too far behind. yada yada yada,,
Hope you have a pain free day/night. mellowguy

The milder weather here in NJ was nice while it had lasted. The pain was there but I could function, today it is really cold out and I can't move. My arm feels like it's being ripped off my body from my shoulder down to my finger tips. I'm scared as this is just the beginning of what I am afraid will be a long cold winter. I don't want any more meds, they make me so tired but I can't handle the way I am feeling today. Dr had given me the option of trying more nerve blocks (they only lasted 10 days last May (had 6)) or a radio frequency ablation. I haven't heard good things about the rfa so don't want to do that and if blocks didn't wk the first time would they this time? I don't know what to do.

Regarding the NE -I grew up in NJ, which was bad enough, then married and moved to RI - which is even worse. What we do for love.....we have another monster low developing in the south that is going to move up and produce more rain and intense winds in the next few days. Joy, joy.

stressed out - RFA is a nightmare - DON"T do it.

This weather s**** here in northern NJ! We are supposed to get snow tomorrow already and I can feel it. My whole arm and shoulder hurt so bad. Strange though that it's not so swollen, just mildly. Tremor is bad today. I am only on Lyrica and Cymbalta and they have helped the burning, tingling, shocks but now i feel like my bone is crumbling under my skin. My hand gets so stiff and sometimes will cramp up where I can't open my fingers. I've had most normal functioning except weakness and weak fine motor skills. I'm so scared, I really don't want any of the invasive procedures the dr talked about and need to function for my not so understanding kids (teens) and husband.Ussually I can keep my pain at a 4 or 5 but today it's a 7 and going up. I just can't deal lately, I keep thinking I'll wake up the next day better.

If you have a doc that is offering RFA then you need a NEW ONE!!

You are fortunate you are in NJ, there are better docs available within driving distance where you live than almost anywhere else. Yesterday my husband and I saw Dr. Philip Getson in Marlton, NJ (exit 4 off the Turnpike). He is AWESOME!! I waited a few months for the appt, needed to organize and submit the paperwork by myself. For me it was a 270 mile drive it each direction, since you live in northern NJ it would be much easier for you than that. You also have easy access to NYC. I have seen a really good doctor at St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital, I was able to get into his office for an appt within a month or so of calling. But again, my husband and I drove 160 miles each way to get there.

I obtained a list of doctors that offer ketamine from the RSDSA (Jim Broatch) and started calling the closest hospitals to RI until I found places that would take me.

The biggest disappointment for anyone that lives in New England is that the Beth Israel is not taking any new patients into their ketamine program. But, in addition to that, their doctors are hands down the meanest bunch I've come across in the 3 years since I've become sick. The report they issued regarding my diagnosis could almost be deemed fraudulent, in that they called my symptoms "myofascial pain syndrome," yet listed meds and other recommendations consistent with an RSD diagnosis....why they are screwing patients is beyond me. The administrative team at the hospital shut down the ketamine program to new patients because insurance companies were refusing to pay for it, so the doctors are retaliating by taking it out on the helpless patients??? In addition, they missed a key part of my problem that the docs in NYC and NJ found, so in the end they're not as good at detecting things as perhaps they could be.

Anyway - (pardon me for the rant, my experience at the BI was incredibly tramatic for me) - until I got out of New England and in front of the much better doctors in NYC and NJ I did not get a clear understanding of my RSD or a good analysis of my meds. I would urge you NOT to wait to get to the very best doctor, with the very best RSD credentials, that you can. Get the list of ketamine docs from the RSDSA and start calling. Not only do these guys know ketamine, but they know RSD. They can help figure out what's wrong with you, advise you on the best mix of medications, and help you determine what procedures (i.e. - blocks, infusions) will relieve your pain in the best manner possible. And in the end, hopefully you will become painfree ASAP.

I still have an appointment pending with Dr. Schwartzman in late June 2010. Dr. Getson, who works often with Dr. S, urged me to keep it. He said that you can never see too many specialists, or find out too many things, about your RSD.

If you have any questions, please let me know. XOXOX Sandy

Hi Sandy,

My daughter never had a great doc. Always got the run around, told her to suck it up...never believed her pain not until she started seeing Dr. Kirkpatrick, he is wonderful. I know that there is a special place in heaven for this man. He knows RSD and is very sympathetic to my daughter. I know exactly what you are talking about. My daughter was so young when this hit her. The doctors have been so cruel over the years. Not knowing or not wanting to know the true outcome of her illness. It is true, spend the money to find someone that knows this disease. When we left Dr. K's office after the first visit, I saw this look of relief from my daughter, after 6 years, someone finally believed her and had compassion for her pain.

By the way the weather in Florida is horrible right now. We have cold rain, I know that you northerners won't think this bad but it was in the 50's today!
Cold for us. I grew up in New England, Massachusetts to be exact, so I know the cold you are talking about. Get yourself a SNUGGIE!!!!
Stay warm, Sending my love your way.

Sandy