Good morning Barbara...

RSD and CRPS are one in the same..Just CRPS is a more current name for RSD.. Now RSD/CRPS is divided into two groups as CRPS I and CRPS II.. due to the injury and nerve impairment...their are many stages of CRPS which we all fall into a catagory...3 stages.. and to drive you a little more crazy..their are 5 stages of grieving thru this whole process..just as when you lose a loved one....so be patient with yourslef and everyone around you as we all have to ride the bumps and sadness of our illness...and it affects us differently than our loved ones...

I hope this helps you and talk to us..ask away anything elase you would like..we are here for eachother..and we are a great family!!!

Have a sweet day!!! Kathy

i do try to be patient with them..They are more patient with me though than i am.. I never had patience to begin with..lol.. i sometime think its harder on my kids than it is me.. They are more frustrated, or atleast they havent figured out how to hide it yet as they are only 12 and 15 and changing themselves..Everyone says once the settlement is finished and i get the money i will feel better but i really doubt that.. It is just one problem out of the way.. The pain and the grief is still going to be there. the hardest part is we are living with my parents, and im working part time and they are messin with me trying to fire me.. which im sure will happen soon..I asked my hubby to stay off work til this is resolved with the suit, so he can be there for all my appts, since i forget everything anyway. the worst part for me is I feel like i am losing my mind..I was going to go back to school, but now not sure if i can remember what i learn.. Or if the stress of school is going to push me over the edge right now..Im really unsure of my self lately.. Its horrible..But I like to think with the help of all you wonderful survivors i can do anything.

Babs, I just wrote a long letter-and it disappeared Did you get it.?
I'll just mention a couple things I wanted to say. Make notes of everyday of work. Try to get lifetime medical coverage in your settlement. Others have.
Stress does cause flares and spread. They should be paying for counseling for you. Psychologist or psychiatrist. The second one can prescribe meds. I had the first one when my parents died,which was perfect and I have the 2nd one for the RSD, which is perfect. Many good Drs. don't take insurance any longer. I've been paying $250 an hour for my psychiatrist.
This is out of pocket. I go once a month for 5 years and now in 6th year going once every 2 months. When I passed out for 1-1 1/2 hrs I was in hospital in semi icu-cost $35,000 An example of why WC should pick up your tab. I've had this 15 years. I wasn't a WC case. I didn't sue my Dr.
Take care, I need to figure out how I'm erasing my letters-frustrating.
Your friend, loretta with very soft hugs

my insurance allowed me to go to a specialist without a referral so i was able to just go to a neurologist. they immediately gave me meds, steroids and scheduled my nerve test. I suggest bringing pictures that show your crps at its worst (color/swelling) and tracking your pain in a journal or planner, so you can show exactly what's going on. You may need to see more than one neuro to get a good one. Good luck!

I see a neuro for migranes right now.. and she has touched base with my crps.. she has answered some questions for me about it..Hubby wants me to see if she will be a treating dr for the time being..I really want someone who specializes in our disease to be honest so i get the right treatment... But i am scare to have the nerve test.. I hear its extremely painful..
but I will keep a journal.. thanks for the advice,,


good luck

your hesitation Babs..but do everything you can to get your questions answered and a Dr. who specializes in RSD? CRPS..Neuro..PM or other..as it can be hard to find one but it is essential..then you should read and do your homework on our condition..ask away here plus Dr. and websites...we are all the same in that we have this ugle monster but we all different in that it affects us all kinda, differently..Early stages you may respond to treatment better..I am not minimizing treatments and tests but you should have the diagnosistic tests and treatments as offered... possibly you'll have gotten some relief...

I hope I helped you...KS

Well i agree with ya.. my doctor just kind of gave up on me all of a sudden.. Kind of freaked me out.. Made me feel like i had the plague or something.. But I know together we can help each other, and the questions i have had for over a year have finally been answered and i feel a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. So eventually I would like to meet all of you wonderful people who have helped me through this..

Thanks..
Always your friend

Barbara

I am sorry your Dr. ran on you..I think he ran cuz he was out of his area of expertise..RSD is not common for many Dr. Seems they either know about it, a bunch or they don't anything! That does not make it any easier for us tho.. I am so tickled we can help you... Were family..family don't turn their backs on eachother...ya..one day we'll throw a huge RSD party... and get to meet eachother...I'll be the one who keep(s) smilin!!!

Hugz, k

Dear Barbara,

I requested an updated ketamine doctor list from the RSDSA today. In DesMoines, Iowa they have Dr. Steven Quam 515-221-9222 on the list.

Docs that offer ketamine for RSD will be pretty experienced in the field and should be able to help you better than most other docs. How far are you from Des Moines?

If you want me to e-mail you the entire list that I got today just let me know.


Good luck. XOXO Sandy

My drs appts now are in Des Moines and so are my lawyer.. And i would love that list if you wouldnt mind..

my email is mickeymouse52501@yahoo.com
I live about 90 miles away.. Thats pretty awesome that you found that.. I will call and talk to someone soon about that..My lawyer likes to make my appointments, cuz my last one the resident i saw was opposed to my case and stressed that. and hes worried that it might hurt my case and were almost done with it.. So i will talk to him about this doc asap.. He might know of him.. thanks so much..the last resident tried to get me to fire my attorney.. it was quite funny now. but at the time i was quite upset about it.. my attorney has become my best friend in helping me to be honest.. hes helped me with bills and everything..hes been a great help..