I was looking through posts of people who have seen him. Anyhow I am wondering does Dr S for treatment only suggest ketamine? I am not against trying this though am not sure. I just feel some docs have there thing they do like some always suggest scs,nerve block,catheter and don't look a the patient individually. I know the wait is long for him and Dr Kirpatrick does it in Tampa ketamine but his wait is like a week so that is concerning too. I am so confused on who to see now as I am in a bad place pain wise and it seems to be spreading more. This is a real downer since I was making slow progress for a time but this flare up and spread has been months. I am drained from going so far to see doctors too. I would fly to Japan if it would help but when one goes so far to get little relief it takes a toll. I also seem to be getting more skeptical of docs and treatments as the time goes on. Can anyone give me some thoughts?Thank you

Have you thought about seeing an Anesteologist. They now have offices sat up where they take care of Pain Management. I have one here that is great and I have seen them do good for a lot of people I know. You might try to find one in your area that has an office sat up.

I agree, that one track mind thing in these Drs. just don't cut it. One treatment is not the answer for everyone.

Some of these Drs. are winning their popularity on one treatment only to tell people they don't qualify. It goes back to kickbacks from those treatments.

I do hope you find some help soon to get rellief.

Ada

Hi. Yes I have seen a couple anestesolgists like Dr Stanton Hicks at CC. My actual best pain doc is the one I found at a hospital that is a teaching hospital in my homestate. He was willing to listen and also did not have a 1 size fit all approach. I had 2 procedures with him and my pain increased and why he wanted to wait to do the scs. I may go back to him cause he was not out to make money and did not go along with all the other docs I have seen he looked with a fresh eye. I am not out for meds cause I am on no narcotics or do I want to be but I have had little relief from the pain docs I have seen so I keep researching new. Yet with my research I go to who are supposed to be good in rsd treatment and I am let down so that is why I am skeptical now. Thanks for your thoughts.You made me think that maybe I should go back to the pain doc I was working with.

HI Daniella, I have seen and been treated by both Dr.'s. Ican tell you that they both have certain ideas of how to treat an RSD patient. Dr. Kirkpatrick definely had his own way of doing blocks {because he did them himself] and with the kind of medicine he would use,period. He was definately not one of my favorites. He seemed to just treat the problem that he thought you were having,even if at that point you needed help with another area. As to Dr. Schwartzman he is the kindest most caring Dr. I have seen except the Dr. I have here in Florida, But Dr. S. is also pretty set in his ways too. I believe that his big thing is sending people with severe RSD to Germany for the Ketamin coma. That whole coma thing scares me. Well I know how draining it is to find the right doc, heck it's draining to have RSD let alone finding the right treatment for yourself. You just have to keep on trying to find who and whats the best for you. Your friend Wendy

danella
Could you share your experience with Dr. Stanton-Hicks? Send me a PM if you don't want to post public.

I have seen another doc at CC a couple times. I have not seen S-Hicks because he treated my sister when she had RSD, and she didn't care for him.

I am trying to nail down if there is anything else, reasonable, that I can do. I have had this crud so long now.

I was seeing a doc at OSU, but he got a promotion and no longer sees patients.

I can barely make it to Cleveland - about a 3 hour drive - so I don't want to go out of Ohio.

Dear Daniella... and everyone here..

Your concerns are loud and clear and very valid!! I aggree with Wendy, although I have not seen Dr. K but I have seen Dr. S. just a few weeks ago matter of fact..He is the most knowledgeable, kind, super Dr. I have yet to encounter..I am still in awwe.. having treated with him..even tho my news was unfavorable.. meeting him overshadowed my bad news..Yes, these Dr.'s all have their speciality ways of handling patients RSD..but I also feel if the treatment recommended is not feasible $$$$ then we haven't much choice following the plan, my case anyway.. and I feel thye realize that also..but I still benefited as having Dr. S diagnosis and confirm my RSD and it's progression, it is worth every penny to know where I stand currently and his professional opnion on what I can expect for my future...lets face it we haven't many choices to go by anyway..sad but true... but we do have ecahother!!

Hugz, Kathy

First thank you all again. I really appreciate it. I do feel that many of the RSD docs have there "thing" they do and don't always base it on the patient. Though we all have the horrible pain of rsd we all respond so different to treatment and why I don't like the one size fits all.
Keepsmilin I am glad you benefited seeing him. Are you going to do the ketamine? Sorry I am a little confused.
Wswells right there with you about the coma. There is no way for me but everyone is different. What part of FL are you in? I am in Southern FL.
Daylilfan I can't say I was happy with my treatment there. I felt they also have a certain thing they do as the starting point is a tunneled epidural catheter and then you do PT everyday. Everyone I have read who has went to CC for rsd has been suggested this. If this does not work then you go onto more invasive like scs possible. I do know someone who sees Dr Stanton Hicks who had a scs done and she is doing much better but she did the cathter etc before. I too drove 4 hours to see him each way so I understand that and he spent like 10 min with me. You can email me or anyone else too if you want more info.
Thanks again.

Hey D...

Following my diagnosis with Dr. S..whole body plus interanl..i didn't expect the internal part..I would lean more to the 5 day sleep there..but my insurance is not on board so I won't have a decision to make..I am fighting it with little hope they will approve it...

Kathy

Do you mean the coma in Germany or Mexico? I stated this on another post but there are blogs of a few people who did it. The parent does a day to day posting. I am sorry about insurance. I did not think the infusion even is covered cause I know at Dr K I would have to pay out of pocket.Wouldn't they do the infusion first before the coma to see how you respond or no? You are in my thoughts and thanks again.

Thxs D~

The 5 day sleep is not the same as the "coma"..The 5 day is an inpatient sleep..@ Drexel at a moderate does of Ketamine..The coma is 5 days High dose done outside of the US..Germany or Mexico.. Now there is a low dose out patient infusion that ne is awake for..that is 10 days of infusion..4 hrs. for 10 days..I paid out of pocket to see Dr. S inticially also..They explained to me that private ins..has NEVER approved the Ketamine intervention..so I am feeling backed into a corner more than ever now as my RSD ..Dr. S said is whole body and internal..and my ins. won't jump on so .. it is a wash.. but I won't stop appealing it..I absoultely hate the thought of being asleep for the 5days ..it may not become reality anyway so I am not going to fret..and I refuse to put my finances in a downward spin for some pain relief which may last a short time or not at all...Maybe me sounding crazy but kids are going to college soon..

Hugz, Kathy