Welcome to the forum. This is a good place for information, support, and sometimes to just "vent".

Understanding and living with "chronic pain" is a process. Nobody anticipates how difficult it is until it happens to them. It can be a lifechanger.

But there is a LOT that you can do. Knowledge is power so read as much as you can about CRPS and also on chronic pain. There are many techniques that are out there for you to try and you should. Everyone is unique with CRPS and chronic pain, so there can be a lot of trial and error in finding a management routine that works for you.

Be sure you have the right professionals on your team. This disorder is widely misunderstood, even by MANY doctors. Don't be afraid to ask any doctor or therapist who you are working with how many patients they have worked with that have had CRPS. If the answer is none or not many, keep looking!

Do NOT be afraid to try complementary therapies such as massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, meditation, prayer, yoga, etc. You may be surprised to find that a combination of these, along with some mind-body training and good doctors and therapies, and the right medications, can reduce your pain considerably, or at least your "perception" of the pain.

Below is a link to a very good site from the University of Minnesota. On the bottom of this page is a list of "healing practices A-Z" with much good information inside each of those sub-links. You have nothing to lose. I have successfully integrated a number of them into my daily routine with a high degree of success.

http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/

Good luck and hang in there; we're all in this together!!

Thank you for the information and the support. I will use some of these ideas in the link. I appreciate the information. There are no support groups in our state. I do have a great pain Dr. that not only treats CRPS, but is genuinely interested in helping his patients. I think I am the problem, because I tend to want to fix things right now rather than accept the fact that there is no cure and I have to deal with that.

I felt the same way as you early in this and of course now I wish I could fix this or someone would fix me. During the first year of this I had a few doctors even say to me you are looking for a doctor to fix you. I thought of course I am who would not. I even remember my neurologist saying you are going to have to learn to live with this. I was like no way, how can I and I was so mad at her.

Then as time passed and along the years you get to a point after seeing so many doctors that you realize you have to manage this and find a treatment to give you pain control. It can get too a better place pain wise where you can have a better quality of life and less pain. I know this girl who had rsd for many years and was in a wheel chair. She did so many treatments and suffered so much. Then finally she found the right treatment for her and she is active now out of the wheel chair,back in school etc. So I guess you never know what can help.
Like others said you are not alone.