Hi Dawn,

So glad to here you continued relieve. Believe me the boosters are nothing compared to the infusion. I also did mine with Dr. S and never had a problem. I had to stay in a hotel for 2 days each time because we are so far 3+ hours. So my husband, family, friends would take turns it was kinda of a mini vacation for them. Yet they did have to take care of me and it was just a matter of getting me back to my room which was 3 blocks and we would walk it. I would just sleep until around 5:30PM eat and do it again the next day. The drive home after was a little tough but we made it through.

Good Luck keep us posted.

You guys know I was in the city at HSS this past week and I had a cortisone shot and it helped tremendously. As I said the MRI did show I slight bulge but one step at a time. Anyway I did ask around some of the staff about the stories I have been hearing about Dr.S and Hannahmein Hosp. and again I don't want to beat up on Dr. S my experience with him was a good one. But I would not feel right not making everyone aware of what I heard. And we all know how stories go but I know this woman for 6 years and I don't think she would lie. I simplied told her of a person a knew who had a terrible experience with Dr. S and the hospital, and I quote her, "it doesn't surpriese her and she has heard of stories also" and that is all she said. So I don't know what's going on but when I had my boosters him, his staff where just great. ??????? Maybe he's retiring he has to be at least 65 or over. Dawn I know your going to your boosters next week I won't worry you don't even go into the hospital part at all.

Dawn I am so happy for you that you have had such good relief. Kathy I am sorry for your continued pain and struggles. You are in my thoughts
I have a question so is Dr Richman work with Dr S. Or is it that Dr Richman does not do boosters and why does he not? I am confused. Also does Dr Richman only do ketamine for rsd patients or he looks at the individual? I ask cause I feel if you go to see Dr S you either are suggested the ketamine infusion or coma but I wonder if that is the right treatment for all rsd people. It seems some pain doctors have there specific treatment they do but it is not always right for everyone.

Great questions! Dr. RIchman works closely with Dr. S. They have had numerous phone calls regarding my treatment since I will be a patient of both of them. Dr. Richman is able to dose ketamine at a much higher level in patient at HSS then Dr. S can at Hannehman since Dr. Richman is an anesthesiologist, they are able to dose higher then neurologists or other Dr's.

Dr. Richman is easier to get an appointment with as Dr. Schwartzman is booking into 2013 unless you get a referral into him by another Dr. such as Dr. Richman.

The two of them working so closely together is ideal. If one does not have the right solution for you, they will likely refer you to the other or another Dr. at HSS.

As for Dr. Richaman, I have met with over 30 Dr's in the past 10 yrs alone and I can tell you, you will never find a more compassionate, sincere and genuine Dr. then Dr. Richman (I hear Dr. S is awesome too but I have not yet met him, will next week).

If ketamine is not the answer for you and you can be treated with other methods, I do believe Dr. Richman would tell you straight out. He is incredibly honest and one of those few Dr's for whom money does not seem to be the primary goal. He does treat other types of chronic pain also and I don't think he would ever suggest ketamine if he did not believe it would be right for you.

I sincerely wish everyone with RSD could get involved with these Dr's as their teamwork and dedication to helping people with RSD is amazing.

Please feel free to ask any other questions. I hope my reply has helped.

Dawn

Thank you. That is like Dr Kirkpatrick in Tampa he says he uses higher doses I think and why it is op. I am so glad you are happy with your care. I too have seen so many doctors in many states and why I am skeptical. Sorry to sound negative. I just often wonder if basically everyone who enters these clinics would be suggested the same treatment yet as we can see just from this post we all respond differently. I am glad you feel Dr R is honest I think that is so important. Anyhow thank you again and I hope you feel better.

Hi All,

Just to clear up why Dr. Richman does not do boosters. The reason is the hospital's IRB will not allow him/them to. At one point they where going to begin the process but just never went through with it. Also Dr. Schwartzmen is a Neurologist and Dr. Richman is a Anestiologist Specializing in Pain Managment.

I have meet other doctors in that building who share a different perpective on Ketamine. I think alot demends on where your at with your RSD ,if you can handle the procedure, that's the reason for the physc. evals., cardiologist and such. So there's alot that demends if they recommend it. I have heard of Dr. Richman telling people he did not think it would work for that particular person yet they still wanted to do it.

Pain Free Day for all. My 16 year old just got her permit yesterday and we just drove all over what a experience. I don't remember this with my son?

Gabbycakes

Hi Dawn,
I'm so glad you are doing so well and when you have the booster it will decrease the last part of your pain. The thing I can tell you is to be very very careful NOT to bump in to anything or hurt yourself because once you do so the pain comes back with a vengence! So for anyone out there getting the ketamine treatment please make sure you do not hurt yourself once you get the treatment done.

I don't have a pain management doctor in eastern PA. I went to two of them and all they wanted to do was nerve blocks which did not help and told me years ago to go to Dr. S and get the ketamine done. Last month I contacted another pain management doctor and he told me he could not help me because he would usually do nerve blocks and none worked on me. I've been seeing a neurologist here in the area for all my meds and I started getting IVs of natural vitamins and hopefully that will make me stronger and lessen my pain some. You should find someone in your area as Dr. R is such a long way away from your home. You need someone local to monitor you more closely.

I thought about seeing Dr. R but I just can't mentally and physically go through the ketamine again because it was so bad and was such a traumatic experience for me. I may do lidocaine next year with Dr. S but I'm not sure. I might just stay the way I am (in lots of pain) as I know what I am dealing with now. I can never deal with how bad the pain was in Sept/Oct again. It was horrible.

I had to laugh when you said Dr. S office moved up your booster IV because that was probably the one he canceled on me haha. Just had a chuckle over that one. Best of luck to you and let me know how long the treatment lasts for you. I pray it last for years and years!!!
take care,
kathy d

Thank you again for your explanation. So does Dr R feel people should have the boosters and to see Dr S? I am glad Dr R is at least honest if you are not going to recieve benefits from the ketamine.
Kathy I had similar with the blocks. Actually increased my pain. I can understand how your mentally and physically drained. I know when my pain got increased from some treatment my pain doctor suggested I let me nerves settle down. I think it gave me time to regroup mentally as well. I hope with your neurologist you can get some relief. Who knows maybe a different combo of meds could help a lot. You are both in my thoughts.

Daniella,

Both Dr. Richman and Dr. S seem to feel very strongly at this point, as does Dr. Getson in NJ, that the key is to continue treatment with the boosters after the initial higher dose and longer (5 day treatment). The more they've studied outcomes, the more the research proves that ongoing treatment is key. Dr. S starts with it at every two weeks, then it gets moved to 1x per month, 6 wks, etc depending on how you are doing.

I know Dr. Richman is in close contact with Dr. S but I'm unsure if he sends everyone to him for the boosters. In my case, I am only 1 hr from Philly but 3 hr from NY so he may recommend other Dr's for the boosters depending on your location and also how severe your RSD is.

Dawn

I just got done with my second inpatient at HSS with Dr. Richman this past week. My pain had built up to be too much again despite my 300mg infusions every 5-6 weeks but after this five day, I'm very happy to say that my pain level is at a 0 and has been since February 23. I've been home since the 26th and haven't felt this good in twelve years. Now to just try to maintain that and not overdo things as I tend to do.

Once again, I truly cannot recommend Dr. Richman highly enough and will be forever grateful to him as well as Dr. Bromberg here in PA who has kept me going all the time in between. Without these doctors, I don't know how I'd get by.

I also want to say how much I miss this site. I've gotten extremely busy on Facebook in another group called the Ketamine Klub and between that, my three teens and my work from home, I can barely keep up at times but will definitely try to stop by more often.

I hope everyone here has been well. I've missed you all, but also realized how many of you are on Facebook too!!

Dawn