I also have RSD from shoulder surgery - I injured myself in 11/2006 and had rotator cuff repair in 5/07 and 4/08. I was diagnosed after the 2nd surgery in 6/08. Mine spread first to my neck and head, and then later to my right leg. Numerous blocks and lidocaine infusions didn't do much.

Ketamine infusions have helped me quite a bit, I started them on April 19th - and I am finally back to work. I fly from RI to NJ to get mine, since there is nowhere local that will take care of me. I know there is a doctor in Rutland, VT that has started to offer them - is that close to you? I can give you more info regarding him if you would like, I have a list from Jim Broatch of the RSDSA of ketamine providers in the US.

I am also a victim of WC - I'm a CPA and tore my rotator cuff carrying a heavy workbag. It was pretty difficult to obtain authorization for the infusions. As a matter of fact, my doctor has still not been paid by the Hartford (they suck big time....). But he took care of me Monday and Tuesday of this week anyway with my 21st and 22nd infusion before letting me know my bill was still outstanding and asking me to hand it to my attorney. It's hard to find doctors as nice as that - I was just incrediby lucky to stumble upon a guy that truly cares about his patients (Dr. Philip Getson, Marlton, NJ) and is willing to let the money trail follow.

Good luck to you, XOXOX Sandy

Sandy thanks so much for the info. Rutland is probably 3 hrs from me- and I'll keep that doctor's name in mind for when I want to start ketamine. I've heard on here that people have ketamine injections too. How do they differ in the length of time that they work for you? For infusions-is it a couple of hours (infusion then being monitored)?

The only reason I hesitate at this point with SCS, implantable morphine pump, or ketamine -is that my CRPS sxs come and go -depending on my surroundings (temp), my activity level, if I miss a dose or am late with my meds, and my stress factors or emotions. If all those things are good, I can have good days and feel almost normal. People would think (and might) that I'm faking all of this if they didn't know the amt of meds I take to maintain normalcy.

Re:W/C they have given me the runaround frequently, most often by the looong delay in approving anything we request for treatment. Our adjustor there has a reputation for exactly that. Of course that doesn't help me with a disease that stresses prompt treatment in everything you read.
The one blessing is that when I did the original injury to my shoulder (tearing the rotator cuff) I wrote up the incident report at work -so they know my crps is due to that injury and have taken responsibility for the cost of any treatment resulting from that injury and the crps now. The catch is that they have to have their IME examine me and approve of almost everything. I'm sure you know that runaround.

I appreciate the info Sandy. Everyone on here is so helpful!

the best info on ketamine infusions that I can think of is on RSDSA.org (a wonderful resource for RSD). There is a search tool. If you type in "ketamine" a list of articles will come up. Robert Schwartzman from Drexel Univ in Philly, Philip Getson of Marlton, NJ (my doc), and Dr. Kirkpatrick of Tampa, Fl are all rather well known proponents of ketamine infusions for RSD.

My infusions take about 3-4 hours. Ketamine has given me my life back, I am off the heavy narcotics I needed to control my pain.

This is the info from Jim Broatch's list that I have for VT:

Rutland, VT Dr. Rob Giering Rutland Regional Med. Ctr.
802-775-7111 need a physician's referral

If you still have good days then you are truly fortunate!! That is awesome!! I hope that you are able to control your symptoms with meds forever. But if things change, and you need to pursue more aggressive treatments, then perhaps the info on the RSDSA website will be of interest to you. There is a ton of good stuff there.


XOXOX Sandy

I was dxd very quickly too. I'm just not happy it's coming back.

I go to school in Potsdam, so that's not too far from me :P