That is a very good point. When I was first diagnosed, one of the first doctors wanted to perform a sympathectomy (essentially destroying part of the central nervous system). Fortunately, my primary care physician explained that while it would get rid of the pain, it would also prevent me from feeling any other pain which is a good thing. He talked me out of it – thank God!

When our pain system works the way it should, it acts as a warning system to tell us that something is wrong and that we should do something about it. When we as children stick our hands in fire and it hurts, we quickly learn to take our hand out and not do that again. This is evolution at its best. If we did not have such a system, we would harm ourselves many times over.

By using a lot of narcotics to numb our RSD pain, we do run the risk of dulling senses that will give us warning signs for other problems. However, our bodies are pretty smart, too. The nervous system, even screwed up, will “direct” the pain meds to the areas where they are needed and concentrate the numbing effect there.

Want some non-scientific evidence? I take enough (your choice of narcotic here) that the average person on the street or recreational drug user would be “flying high.” However, I am never dizzy, dopey, goofy, or high. Why? Because much of the drug is going to the pain, not to the part of the brain that makes one “fly.”

Of course this is just my opinion. I am not a scientist. I still am extra-careful to pay close attention to all of my body-signals and get regular complete checkups. I own a cuff and take my own blood pressure daily. If you have a cardiac condition, your cardiologist should advise you how often to come in.

Mike

OMG i am SO GLAD you did NOT do the sympathectomy!! I am appauled that that Dr even SUGGESTED that as a first line of therapy!!
I became desperate enuf and checked into getting that done because of the constant burning leg pain. To me it boiled down to either that or a 12-guage shot to both legs!! Thank God my Dr talked me outta that as well.
That is a definate 'Grande Finale'...there is no turning back once you cut that nerve chain. And in most cases (Per my Dr) pain ends up coming back anyway (as in phantom pain or otherwise).......
Soooooo glad you didn't do that

Thanks for all your great input

I too am sickened that your Dr. would even think of a sympathectomy as a first line of treatment. I was Diagnosed with RSD in 1986, first was PT and some other noninvasive treatment, then it was hundreds of different blocks, 2 trips to Philly from FL. to see Dr. Schwartzman and then back here for 5 day continuous blocks using sufentyl this was pre Ketamine.The continuous 5 day blocks seemed to work the best for me , but they did not hold. My neurologist,Ortho surgeon, anesthesiologist contacted Dr. Swartzman and they all decided that the best course would be sympathectomies. I had 3 out of my 4 limbs done. BIG mistake, The pain does not go away it lessons but you still have to take meds and you still feel like crap. About 10 years a was told that the sympathetic chain grows back. Well I am proof that this is true the pain comes worse than prior to the surgeries.I think that most of the Dr.s would know that this is not a good treatment for RSD, maybe it is used for other reasons. Please check about other treatments, but I personally would say no to a sympathectomy. Good Luck with your treatments my prayers are with you!
Wendy