Hi All ~

I was told 2 days ago that I have RSD.

I am writing my main question up here to save those of you who do not wish to read the novel I have written below.

I found information about Dr. Getson in NJ. I called him because I have already learned early treatment is the best approach. I was advised that Doc wants to see all of my records prior to scheduling an appointment so he is not treating me for something other than RSD. So where do I turn to for testing to confirm the diagnosis? If so many doctors are not aware of, or simply do not even acknowledge RSD, how is it possible to confirm a diagnosis?

Do I start with a Neurologist, or another type of doctor? And can anyone make any recommendations for doctors in the Middlesex County area? I did ask the person I spoke with at Dr. Getson's office if she could at the least point me in a direction, and she said she could not.

Thanks for any info anyone can provide.

~ Brat


It started about 3 weeks ago when I had pain in my foot for 2 days and decided to go to my Primary doc to just have it checked out. He told me he didn't see anything really wrong. However he did advise me to see a podiatrist because I had two bone spurs that were significant and they needed to be taken care of.

I chose a podiatrist close to my home and he did an ultrasound and said I had a torn tendon and a sprain. He tapes it up, puts me in a boot, and sends me on my way. Ten days later I go back and he checks the foot out, pokes around and notices some swelling on the ankle. Advises me that he wants to give me a cortisone shot. Against my better judgement, I allow the shot, he changes me from the boot to a brace, sends me on my way. After the shot, the pain became worse. and I begin to feel tingling in the foot and toes, which are are also quite cold. I figure this is because I am sitting around too much and not moving like I normally do.

Another week goes by and another appointment. This time I see a partner in the practice. She tells me it's mononeuritis and wants me to go for PT - 15 treatments, and an appointment in 3 weeks. Advised me to keep wearing the brace, and adds an ace bandage to the mix. I told her the boot actually felt better than the brace to my foot, she said the doctor wants you to transition from the boot, so keep the brace. Alrighty then, off I go.

I get home and begin thinking about what has taken place and I am concerned at the fact I have been told 3 different things are going on, and also with things seeming to decline instead of improving. And PT is being prescribed with no MRI or any other tests to confirm an injury to treat with the PT. I call another Podiatrist who was referred by a friend.

He comes in and feels my feet and asks me if I realize how cold my foot is. I said I did but thought it was from resting and maybe I have been wearing the ace bandage too tight? He said I had been sitting without it long enough and it should not be that cold. He also commented on the color of the foot which was a combo of blue and red splotchiness.

He looks at the xrays of my feet, pokes around a bit and says I know what is going on, and we need to start treating it immediately. He writes down RDS and CRPS for me and tells me in very basic terms it is my body reacting to an injury in an abnormal way.

Doc goes on to say he is going to give me some shots that will cause my foot to become numb. I proceed to freak out, since I feel the cortisone was the source of the problems I am now having. He said he definately would not be giving me any cortisone. I asked him how sure he is about this and he said one thousand percent. So, I submit to the shots. and the pain was excrutiating. I thought I was a pretty tough cookie, but it brought me to tears.

Doc gives me something like a compression brace that goes on like a sock, tells me he wants me back in the boot, appointment in 3 weeks and sends me on my way.

Then I get home and start searching for these letters the doc wrote down for me. Let the freak out commence! In the process of my search I found this forum. I learned from the voices of experience years ago when I had a hysterectomy on a forum similar to this so I look forward to being able to learn all I can, and hopefully share some of my experiences and insight eventually as well.

Submit a written request to your current doc who is currently handing your foot for a complete set of your medical records. Then make a timeline for Getson of when the injury occurred and what the treatments have been so far and on what dates. Just list the dates with each treatment for him to see down a page a paper. The last item would be the date of your RSD diagnosis. Take the timeline and a copy of the medical records and put them in an envelope with a letter to Dr. Getson, asking him to please accept you as a patient because you have been diagnosed with RSD. Mail the envelope to his office at 100 Brick Road, Suite 206, Marlton, NJ 08053.

I used Getson in the spring and summer of 2010 for my RSD - he did my first 22 ketamine infusions. I loved him (but not his staff). The best of luck to you! Let me know if you have any questions. xoxox Sandy