How long does this RsD last?

I found 10 or 12 neurologists listed in Shreveport, La as doctors who treat RsD, but how do i know which one really knows what they are doing?

Oh boy...that's a loaded question. There is currently no cure for RSD (one can only hope they will find one some day)...but if treated early and successfully it is possible to go into remission. This is why it is SO important to see someone ASAP and get treatment started if it is RSD. There are even people who have been able to go into remission after having it for a while, though those stories are less common. Catching it early is the best bet and that's why you need to see someone who knows about RSD. Regardless of when it is caught though, proper treatment is key and for that you need to see someone who knows what they are doing.

As far as knowing who knows about RSD...that's harder (and the following is just my personal opinion, other people may have different ideas). There are certainly signs when they DON'T know what they are doing...like when they make stupid comments like "RSD does not spread" or "RSD can only happen in a hand or foot"...or many many others. Most important, I think is that if the doctor doesn't appear to be taking you seriously and your symptoms seriously (even ones that are not present at the time of your first visit), then that may be a hint that this is not the right doctor for you.

Best bet (in my experience) is to do your homework (no easy task) and learn some of the basics so that you can ask the doctor questions about RSD and get a feel for their knowledge. Any doctor who isn't willing to discuss the condition with you, the different treatment options, etc is probably not a good fit in any case.

Also...reccomendations from someone with RSD in your area are always a good bet and a great place to start.

Good luck to you. I am not the most knowledgeable person on here and can really only speak to my own experience. Other members on here can give you lots of great information and help you with some of your questions much better than I can. To be honest I haven't had a lot of success finding the best doctors to treat my condition...so I wish you much better luck in this respect than I had. Best advice I can give you though is that if you don't think the doctor knows what they are talking about or giving you proper care...get a new one. With RSD (and I still pray it is not RSD for you) wasting months with a doctor who is not giving you good care can seriously ruin your life and mess you up. THIS is something I do know from experience.

I looked at the members list hopping that there were some cities of residence, but there seemed to be none. I will start a new thread asking if anyone with lives in my area.

Hi Roy,
It sure seems like you are on an awful amount of medications, especially for your age. If Cymbalta and Lyrica aren't changing your condition than why are you on them?

I would try a nerve conduction study on your neck and arm.

I would try a sympathetic nerve block to see if your pain is sympathetically maintained or sympathetically independent pain. If it's sympathetically maintained you probably have RSD. That type nerve block only last a few hours and is really only good for confirming if your sympathetic nervous system is the culprit. If it is, try a long lasting nerve block to see if your sympathetic nervous system might just decide to shut itself off. If it doesn't shut off you still get pain relief for an extended time. You can do physical therapy while your arm is pain free that might help your pain level later when the feeling comes back.
You have had the pain for a long time and it hasn't spread past your arm, which is good news.
First thing is find out if it's sympathetically maintained or not. If it isn't it doesn't necessarily rule out RSD, if it is, it probably is RSD.

It sounds like you have some type of compartmental syndrome going on. (compression of nerves, blood vessels and muscles inside a closed space). RSD can certainly cause that. Arthritis can too.

Do you have any atrophy of your arm muscle? Do you have any skin, bone density, nail or hair changes on that arm? RSD can cause that. A bone scan can show bone changes too.

2 doctors saying the same thing, I would check out the sympathetic nerve block to try to confirm RSD.

PS. I am not a doctor so my advise is based on my understanding from materials I have read. Please check out everything and confirm it with your doctor. Find an anesthesiologist familiar with RSD. You can usually see one with a pain clinic referral from your regular doctor. Shop around and find an RSD informed one and ask the doctor to refer you to them. Make sure they are taking new patients too. (they do the nerve blocks)
Hope this helped.
Jerie

Nerve conduction tests are generally avoided with RSD. They can exacerbate the syndrome. I underwent another one for Work Comp about a year ago knowing it was a bad idea, with my doc advising against it. It won't help diagnose RSD, so don't request this test as suggested above.


Had I not been confident with my bag of tricks to deal with a flare, I NEVER would have allowed it. As it was, the technician felt so horrible, she cut it short on my "bad hand." For some with RSD it doesn't seem to be that big of a deal. We're all different. But you need to calm your nerves down, and I wouldn't risk it.

Also, please have your blood sugar tested ASAP. Diabetic Neuropathy is frequently confused with RSD.

RSD is a very severe pain disorder. You can go into remission, or you can end up with dealing with it the rest of your life. Treat this as urgently as you would with a cancer scare.

Lit Love,
You're correct that a nerve conduction tests can be more harmful than good. I had one done but my neurologist targeted specific nerves and she had some program in her computer that registered my pain signals to the brain. She was unable to find exactly were the disconnect was but she stopped after it became evident that the search was leading her to my cerebellum area.
Since I don't want anybody drilling holes into my skull I'll except the mystery and treat the pain...

P.S.: Roy, she's right on about getting your blood sugar checked. If nothing else to rule diabetes out...

Blood sugar was tested about two months ago by my family dr and less than two weeks ago by my arthritis dr. I have an appt with both within the next two weeks. I will ask about the B-12 and sugar.

Questions keep poping up:

What about using skin creams like Deep Heet?

Also what about using a heat pad or one of the bean bags that are heated in the micro?

How about Lidoderm patches?

Oh and I have physical therapy in the morning. I will ask about some of these things.

I would say heat pads, cream, etc. are tolerable if you don't have numbness. If you have numbness you can burn yourself without knowing it.

Is pain managment doctors what I need to go to?

We are headed out to PT this morning and I will see my family dr Friday and the Arthritis dr on Nov 1st. iwill ask a lot of questions.

I am out of time, sorry,back later.