i have not been to one yet for my rsd. mt primary care didnt even suggest it...i think SandyRI suggested it in a post the other day.

what will a neurologist to for me or to me? i dont have any money and the little amount i get i have to pay pain doctor co pays..mine are high, my insurance isnt good. my biggest complaint is all this swelling on my abdomen ...my primary care is an internist and he doesnt know what to do... i have had brain mri done that never showed anything...

please tell me what your neurologist has done for you if you have internal rsd...thanks it will help me decide where to spend my money.sorry i am harping on my problem this week..i am getting scared because this swelling is squishing my ind=sides up to my lungs, i cant get comfortable...i cant go to a hospital because they dont gave anything to offer besides more pain meds. i can deal with my pain level..but the crushing pressure is scary

thank you for all your support
Lori

I have suffered from RSD for 8 years. I've been adequately treated by TWO physicians in these years. 1.. An Anesthesiologist who specialized in RSD. He did many procedures on me, not just gave me pain meds.
NOW #2. An INTERVENTIONAL NEUROLOGIST! Since RSD is a Disease OF THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, a NEUROLOGIST IS the type of physician that specializes in THE NERVOUS SYSTEM!
BUT .. BEWARE ... most Neurologists these days Subspecialize - like Seizure Disorders or Parkinson's Disease. THESE NEUROLOGISTS WILL BE OF NO HELP TO YOU.
You need to find an INTERVENTIONAL NEUROLOGIST that specializes in RSD, CRPS, etc.
Once I started with this doctor, everything has changed. I ONLY go to him - and my Oncologist/Gynecologist for my Cancer. I don't just take pain meds. I take a combo of seizure meds, bi-polar meds, anti-depressants & others. The "Interventional" part means that he can do surgical procedures to help you.

I have wasted literally Thousands of Dollars going to the wrong type of doctors before my NEUROSURGEON ( Brain Surgeon ) had this doctor come examine me while I was in the hospital.
Do yourself a favor. Find one.
By the way, my name is Lori also.

I have seen 2 neurologist. I was dx with PN also and RSD. My one neurologist really did every dx test possible to rule out other conditions. So I had a few mris,emg/nc,dopplers,I could go on. He also worked with meds for me as well. I don't have internal but have severe eye and ear pain that they think is rsd now but my neuro also dx tested for things for that issue and not just my limbs. I think you should go to one if at all possible. I know my last pain doctor was saying how some docs will brush something off as rsd and it may not be. I am not saying you don't have rsd but you may have another condition too. Feel better

I just went to a neurologist last week to get a different option on my damaged radial nerve in my right wrist from a bad surgery 4 years ago.

She said that she is the one to see at the very beginning to be dx for my crpsII then would send me to a pm dr. for treatment. She told me she could not help that I would need to see a Neurosurgeon. Most neurologist are limited in what they can do and offer.

I am like you with limited funds for co-pay on dr visits and want to go to the right dr. the first time. Hope this helps. Good luck.

I have seen 3 or 4 in my time and they were all useless. They seem to want to see it on the tests to say you have it. If they see nothing then you have nothing.

I would think about seeing an Anesteologist. They have started in the past several years dealing with RSD. A lot of them not have their own offices as well as working in hospitals.

I have seen way too many Drs. in hopes to find that right one before I found them. Just keep looking but some know nothing about RSD and don't want to deal with it due to the time it takes to get a person to where he can live with it. I would want someone too that believes in something besides prescriptions and SCS's. Make sure they are not of a one track mind.

Ada

Thanks for all your advice

I left messages at 6 offices and sent one an email with the Mannitol documents i found which is a diuretic to help with my inflammation.
i hope by tomorrow i hear back from them all and who will help me with the mannitol., you can only get it by IV. I have 2 doctors documents to back up their research and usage.

I am seeing a new pain mgt doctor who is also a neurologist next tuesday, but he said he doesnt use mannitol and didnt sound like he would be open to it.
I am worn out right now. I feel like i am getting more swollen by the day.
God have mercy on me! I need help right away.
Sorry for whining.
this is just wearing me out.
Lori

Abdominal swelling is a rather non specific entity which can have either dire or benign causes. It can be as a result of serious pathology or have benign origins. An abdominal CT scan would go a long way to clear up the mess.

I had issues with sensations of abdominal swelling as a result of the tug of war between taking Norco daily (slows down the digestive system) and occasional laxatives as recommended by my internist. I demanded a CT scan that was normal and so I noticed that by limiting both medications, those symptoms minimized.

Abdominal swelling, known as ascitis, whose eitiology can be serious should require CT scan to rule in or out ominous causes. I am not at all certain a neurologist is who you need to see...

Thank you Dubious

my swelling has been growing over 6 years. i have had sevral CT Scans and MRIs Ultrasounds...its been a horrible 6 years of running to many doctors with no answers. I have been to johns hopkins 3 times, and Georgetown hospital with the top rheumatologist for 2.5 years. no one can offer help. regular diuretics dont work. so when i just found 2 articles on using Mannitol for RSD inflammation because it works differently I was thrilled. I have had many biopsies, that all come back chronic inflammation... i just need a doctor to try it on me. it has to be given by IV, and the protocol is getting it 3 times a week for a 9 week course, i dont know what happens after that.
I need help and just cant go on like this. I am very debilitated by this condition.
thank you for thinking about this for me!
Lori

I had the abdominal swelling and was diagnosed with Motility Related Syndrome and Metabolic Syndrome which I am on Metformin and Amitiza for. It was brought on by taking meds for so long and I've never been one for staying on meds so it was mostly from trying them out and ending up with major constipation. Dubious sounds like he's on the right track with the med causing some of the problems.

Ada

the meds could be adding to it now...but when it first happened i had just had gallbladder surgery...they cut me about 10" on the right side of my abdomen i swelled up 25 lbs within a week. then it kept growing. hen a doctor said try prednisone so i did and it started to come off in buckets...then we a tapered off of it i started to swell again and then it became a cycle until the prednisone stopped taking it off and i kept growin. then i had the second surgery and it started growing back right away and hasnt stopped. i am seeing the neurologist friday, and he says he has drugs that work better as a anti inflammatory than the Mannitol i want to try. we will see after hee examines me.
i need help right away...this swelling if so fatiguing and heavy and hurts