[RSDer]

I have wonderful news to share with everyone!

I am in Tampa, Fla. where I am being treated by Dr. Anthony Kirkpatrick at the RSD Institute. Dr. K treats intractable RSD with a drug called Ketamine and usually does so in a series of 3 outpatient infusions of 4 hours each. With this process he's had tremendous success at putting RSD patients into full scale remission and literally giving them their lives back.

BACKGROUND: I have had a terrible case of RSD with unceasing (except for very brief exceptions) mind-bending pain that resulted from a fall in my home that injured my left knee. Because they missed the RSD diagnosis, local doctors later replaced my knee - which aggravated the RSD beyond belief. Just before I came down here I was on tremendous opioid doses and was virtually bedridden as I had deteriorated to the point that I could no longer even get from room to room in my home. I have an SCS that was put in a year ago but get no benefit from that. I had tried virtually every treatment there was and had totally given up hope of ever getting my life back again and was near suicide.

During my initial evaluation here in Tampa, Dr. Kirkpatrick decided that the lumbar sympathetic blocks I'd had in the past had not been administered correctly and scheduled me for a series of 3 in his office before deciding whether or not to proceed with the ketamine infusions. After just the very first block in his office my pain disappeared entirely! And I am now able to walk and work my leg for therapy in a warm water pool here at a nearby hotel. I've had two blocks now and couldn't be happier!! Dr. K is very compassionate and there's been absolutely NO DISCOMFORT during either of the blocks. He uses ketamine as the anesthetic for the block and is very generous with it to make sure that you do not experience any pain or discomfort.

Long and short of it is that it appears that after the 3rd block this coming Tuesday I will then fly home and pick up the pieces of the wonderful life I enjoyed before all this happened! It looks like I will not even need the ketamine infusions and Dr. K says that if anything happens down the road - which is evidently very unlikely - then I can always come back for a "booster" treatment to put me into remission again.

THIS MAN IS WONDERFUL AND HAS A REAL PASSION FOR TREATING RSD PATIENTS - ESPECIALLY YOUNG CHILDREN!!! He gets patients from all over the world and his entire office staff is so compassionate and caring. I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THEM!

And all you have to do is call and make an appointment with them - it's really that easy. AMAZING!!!

Hi Their,

I am sooo happy for you.

Do you know off hand what medication was used for your block?

I have been at this over 6 years, I am not well by know means, but alot better. Mine started in my right upper limb. Mosly have burning pain at the top of my head. It's strangs. Wishing you the best. Much love, Roz

[RSDer]

Thanks Roz - I really appreciate the well wishes. This man has given me my life back and I really didn't think that was even possible any more.

No I don't know what was in the block - that's a good question. But I have another one tomorrow morning so I will ask and post back.

Glad to hear that yours is better; keep up the good work!

[JOAN_M]

What wonderful news!! I wish you painfree forever ...
Joan

[DianaA]

Good for you!!!! I am so happy to hear this kind of news. I wish you all the best. I'm sure you will enjoy your life with a whole new perspective. Keep us posted, we would love to hear what you are doing with your life.
Here's to many pain free days. All the best Diana

[RSDer]

Had my third block in the series today and everything went very well. Am still completely pain free - no return to baseline and walking much better now. Will take me a bit to rehab the knee again and eliminate the limp, but that's a cakewalk compared to what I've dealt with over the past 3+ years.

DR. ANTHONY KIRKPATRICK IS TRULY A MIRACLE WORKER!!!

[RSDer]

The medicine used in the block is Bupivocaine. Don't hold me responsible for the spelling <g> here.

[mssherrie]

Originally Posted by RSDer

The medicine used in the block is Bupivocaine. Don't hold me responsible for the spelling <g> here.

That is what is used normally in the blocks. I had three and none of them made any difference . I thought they were mainly to diagnose if it was a sympathetic nerve issue or as in type 2 CRPS a different path. I am probably confused but that seems to be what I have read and what my blocks were, that I do know as my cousin ...a O.R. nurse was with me for them. Sooooo delighted to hear of your relief. I hope it continues forever.

[RSDer]

Thanks mssherrie! I hope the relief continues forever too - and there's good reason to think that it will as Dr. Kirkpatrick has a track record now of putting patients with intractable RSD into permanent remission.

As for the blocks, if they are done correctly then that makes all the difference in the world. I too had blocks previously - about 3 years ago and while they gave me some temporary relief it didn't last. And apparently the only way that they can be certain that the block is in the right place is if the affected limb turns pink and gets warm.

[Imahotep]

Please be careful.

My doctor told me that even those who make complete recoveries are still at higher risk of redeveloping this disease.