Hi Sunshine, I am taking Vicodin 4 per day-6-8 when in high pain or flare.
Lorazepam-anti-anxiety 4mg a day-used to take 8 mg. The calming affect lowers the pain level. Taking seroquel xr and sleeping 10 hours straight has helped my pain level and that is when I was able to lower Vicodin down to 4 a day except for flares. Also Cymbalta works on nerve pain-it is an anti-depressant 120 mg a day. Also has a sedative effect. I take two blood pressure meds. RSD is an autonomic condition so we don't have control over involuntary organs like heart, lungs, kidneys, bladder. The sympathetic nervous system raises blood pressure and the para sympathetic nervous system lowers it. if gets too low can pass out-happened once tome.
You can buy blood pressure kit for $30 at pharmacy.
Also RSD causes no control over body temperature, thus the burning hot spells, and the cold ice spells. Also our immune system is compromised.
I view opiods as a way to have some quality of life. If we have ever had an operation, the nurses tell us to take the meds as directed. Taking the meds correctly, relaxes the body and therefore it heals more efficiently. Skipping meds and getting high pain, tightens everything up and slows down the healing system.
It's because I have this educated Dr. with many degrees that I'm on the right meds and am better now with full body RSD than I was 10 years ago.
Take care, your friend, loretta with soft hugs