My Doctor told me that Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is not neurological; it is a pain syndrome.

What do you think? How would you have responded to him?

Is it or is it not neurological?

He continues to say that anyone with this needs counselling, and that it is caused majorly by stress. He says stress is a major part of causing a pain syndrome, especially Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

hi,

Did he say neurological or psychological? Huge difference; but either way if he's telling you that then he's a bad doctor, so bad that I hardly know where to begin. You must not go back to him. Ever.

Just my $0.2 worth!
all the best.

What do you think? How would you have responded to him?

Is it or is it not neurological?

He continues to say that anyone with this needs counselling, and that it is caused majorly by stress. He says stress is a major part of causing a pain syndrome, especially Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

me thinks you need to find a new doctor..............sorry you had such bad luck with this one..............

Forgot to say - no one really knows what RSD is.

Except that it isn't "all in the mind". If he thinks he knows then he's a fool, and if he won't at least read up on it then he's a bigger fool and if he thinks it's neurological and that that's how diseases of the nervous system should be treated, then he's an even bigger fool.

From what you say, continuing to see this doctor could be more dangerous to you than RSD itself.

Enough, my blood pressure is rising.....
all the best.

Refer or print for him, Mayo, cleveland cllinic, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Yale, publlications on rsd, list all websites then run dont walk out of there and never ever go back.


Just for the sake of educating the fool so he doesnt hurt the next RSD patient too.

All I got to say about that little comment is - Get rid of him!!!

Dude. Sorry about ur doctor. He has no clue what he is talking about. RSD is sooo real. I'd like to see him live 5 minutes with it and tell you that it is all in your mind.

I have to admit, some of it is mental. For example, if someone comes near you, you cringe because you don't want them to touch you in fear of more pain. That is mental in a way, but the result of them touching you is very real. And sure, stress might make RSD seem worse, but it is definetly 100% not the cause. I have never been a stressful person and I got RSD.

And RSD is neurological. Don't listen to that doctor. I also agree that you need to get a new doctor that knows what RSD is. He sounds like a doctor that I had. My foot swelled up 4 times it's size (not directly from RSD, it was a bad reaction to a vasodiolater cream for foot to help with circulation issues with RSD) and she said it was just a rash when my foot was black, blue, purple, red, and other pretty colors. I'm only 15 and I could tell it was NOT a rash. And guess what, it wasn't! But get a new doctor ASAP.

Good luck

Your response should be to not ever see him again and as someone has suggested, send him as much current data on the disease as possible!
What an absolute tosser?? What physiology is he suggesting that causes a "pain syndrome"?Any doctor who can't figure that out needs to be de-registered.
Might pay to name him and shame him!!

Hey

that dr sounds like he doesn't want to know about RSD and is basing his knowledge of RSD onto stuff circulated 20 or so years ago. I think you have to decide whether he WILL learn what it is or whether he refuses to. Also - is he your "specialist" or your PCP? In the UK in med school less than a day is spent on chronic pain conditions and of that RSD is mentioned for about 10 minutes and a GP (PCP) is unlikely to see many cases - so he might be educatable. These are just some ideas you might want to think about when discussing doctors.. and before you change drs.

1) Is he willing to contact drs with a speciality in RSD?
2) is he willing to try a multitudes of treatments/ drugs etc to try and get it "under control".
3) He is correct saying that RSD is a pain syndrome BUT it has neurological effects, rheumatological effects, psychiatric/psychological effects, orthopaedic effects etc etc etc.. therefore will he treat this in a holistic manner?
4) are you on opiates? if you went to a new dr would they continue prescribing them?
5) how much further is it for another dr? are there any that know about RSD?
6) what are his views on physio? if he believes that RSD is due to stress then has he suggested a pain management course which will teach you how to handle stress etc?

I really hope that this gets sorted out! It might be a misunderstanding and he might be willing to learn about it - but if not then you need to find someone else, who you are comfortable with and who understands what this life is like, even if they only understand to a certain extent!

Good luck and love

FRxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sounds like that doctor is in the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome camp.

A real shame there cause even though he is referring to CRPS, it still is not a phsycological disorder. They have pretty much proved that. They just cant tell you why your in pain lol