Thanks for the understanding all.

For Tayla, I am on the outskirts of Sydney. My GP is wonderful but NSW Health limits what he can do so I am stuck with a Pain Specialist.

The thing about it being in your head is intriguing and puts the doctors on shakey ground. It is worth haviing a look at the work published in the Journal of Pain by Massechuesets General Hospital (Feb 2006) that proves quite a number of nociceptors in the affected area are dying. The pain is REAL. It has a real cause.

Have been to doctor after doctor for the insurance company; They ALL agreed that I have a serious case of the CRPS (displaying nearly all of the clinical signs and symptoms all the time). They cannot treat me as they have worked for the insurance company in a medico-legal sense.

Unfortunately the treating doctor is the obstacle.
The current treating specialist power dresses and has his office set up so you cannot view his face easily. Uses the classic interrupt when questions are raised and cuts short the consultation - I am an easy physical and mental pushover since CRPS grabbed me.

As an idea the orthopaedic surgeon immediately post-operatively told me to throw away my crutches an just walk.

I have tried 3 specialist pain management facilities in Sydney and all have put me in the too hard basket.

One single type of medication helps and allows "some" function but my specialist won't titrate the dose to see what quality of life I might achieve. I have so far demonstrated no side-effects. This must be initiated through a hospital or pain specialist.

I just want a little bit of my life back.....you all know.... being able to hug my wife.....carry on a conversation without losing track when the pain score flairs to a 10/10.....it is hard enough to speak fluently at a 7/10 (normal).

I truly appreciate the in-absentia and gentle hugs they do help. So even though I am new to you all.

Hi Aussie,

I want to welcome you abroad. We are a great bunch here. Hugs, Roz

Hi Auberon,

Welcome! Many thanks for your very interesting post - which is the single med that helps, if I may ask? Hope we can help some - even if it's only the virtual hugs, but you're right, they do help....

all the best!

hi guys,

my brother was a big guy too....6'3", about 210 lbs, and he complained about the same thing (he had back problems after a bad car accident)....he used to say "i'm BIG, but i'm not made of stone".

it's outrageous for all of u, and i hope that u will find better docs, or some kind of help soon.

liz

From reading some of your posts I can see that I was fortunate to see a Neurosurgeon from the beginning that was familiar with RSD. He was able to immediately able to get me into a pain clinic that performed a thorough assessment including getting a psych. evaluation. That process makes it more difficult for uninformed doctors to suggest otherwise.

At 5'11" and 220lbs it is bad enough to be in uncontrolled pain, but to have people question you about hurting is enough to drive one to... ness!

I've offered a couple of times for people to let me demonstrate how I feel, but so far, no takers. I wonder why?

EJ