I have RSD in my left hand up to my elbow and also my shouder. My shoulder doesn't always burn/hurt etc. Anyway, I have been really scared this past wk. My right arm is hurting so badly. I know I am over comensating for my left and drive with one arm, I only use the left driving if I have to. I do use the left but not as much as I probably should. So my right is such a bad ache. Mostly from the top of my hand into my elbow if I try to even pick up a drink. I am so scared this is spreading. I have been having a hard time lately. I am on 300mg Lyrica and 60 of Cymbalta and a compound cream with ketamine + in it, I made an appt to see the nurse pract (Dr booked) this wk. This is wc and they make things so hard, i am afraid of how this will be handled. As it is they cut off my benefits except medical because I am max med. improv and want me to go for an IME for a permanancy rating. I have no income, my husbands was cut back because of the economy, denied unemployment and now we are 3 mo behind on the mortgage. I am so stressedout and scared. I just want to go back a yr and a half, maybe if I had done something different this wouldn't have happened.

Sorry about ranting.I feel like this is my lifeline because nobody understands and I can come here and know I am not alone. Thank you all for that but I wish none of us were here.

ur story sounds just like mine except i was denied benefits period. Sorry ur having such a hard time. Make sure u geta lawyer so u get right compensation. Hope things go well with u. Keep ur chin up. And im here if u need to talk.

Hi Stressedout,

You sound like you are very stressed. Which could be causing more pain. As far as your mortgage is concerned...make sure you are keeping in contact with your mortgage company. There are programs out there that will help you. You need to restructure your loan. Call the loss mitigation number. If you have a statement, there is a phone number that can help you. Just make sure you are talking with the mortgage company. I will be praying for you, try to stay positive.

Sandy

Keep praying
I will lift you and your family up tonite,,I wig out all the time,,i dont have insurance either,Christ is my insurance and 401k,,,,,,,,,he will see you and the rest of us thru this,much to you,,stay calm,,,,please,,,,,,,,,wait patiently on the Lord

Hi stressedout. I'm sorry we are here too. But I've had this 15 years and it sounds like you are spreadingto other hand,arm. I got RSD following surgery and got swollen arm, then frozen shoulder. After physical therapy treatments, and was in remission, the therapist told me not be surprised if my other shoulder got rsd and it did. Then it went to orginial side-hand. Then to mirrored over to other hand. and so forth till I have full body.
I don't know very much about wc, but it sounds like you need to consult with an attorney. I don't understand why you aren't receiving some compensation from not being able to work. Others on here got life time medical and that is what I would fight for.Just a thought.
There are other meds that work for nerve pain- I'm on 120 mg cymbalta
do you have sleep issues? restorative sleep is so important and with good sleep our pain level goes down. Anxiety goes with rsd, I take lorazepam as an anxiety med and it helps with pain level. It to me is just as important as my vicodin. Just a few thoughts. I'll check on you later. your friend, loretta
don't ever hesitate to talk about your frustrations-we are HERE for you.

It's so easy to feel like this is our own fault but it's not.

My experience is it does spread and get worse but if you learn your triggers and learn to adapt you can stay ahead of it anyway. Stress is so hard to avoid but seems to be a trigger for all of us.

Good luck. Hang tough.

It sounds like the RSD could be mirroring over to the left side. Mine did that when I first started with it.

You might ask for the lidocaine patches so you can put one on each arm to help you some with the pain.

I would also check with Social Services. Some states have a program where people can draw a check until they get their disability through. It gets paid back to them when your disablility comes through out of the lump sum but it's worth it if they do it to help keep you going for now.

Ada

Hi. I am sorry for all you are going through. I have had areas on my body where it hurt so bad and I thought it was the spread of the RSD but it turned out not to be. I am glad you are going to seek treatment but try to not fear the worst. Trust me I do this too and just a few weeks ago so I know it is easier then said then done. I have rsd in both inner ankle/foot/calf but one is to a lesser degree. I feel this happened a lot due to I over compensate. For ex I go down the stairs with one leg and put the weight on my better one. It is a catch 22 obviously. I really try to do the best I can to not. I agree about other meds to assist. You are on a low dose of both. I am on 120 of cymbalta and am not that familiar with Lyrica but I am thinking that is low as well so you may want to talk to your doc about increasing or orther meds. I am not familiar with WC but am sorry for the financial stress on top of this. Sending better thoughts