I have been so inspired by Catra that I too am pondering a return to work!!!!!! I don't know how yet but each week more miserable symptoms cease. When I hear newly diagnosed folks make post after post asking for help with each new symptom, and my own symptoms are leaving I know I should be happy with my progress due to tDCS. I am happy but not content.

My doc is willing to release me if I can reverse the balance problems caused by the spinal cord stimulator. I am now spending lots of time without my cane. Each week my balance improves. I am also working hard on my lower body strength now that the atrophy is totally gone. My once useless hand which had a severe spread due to the spinal cord stimulator is now 100% BACK TO NORMAL. (And to think that a popular treatment protocol for spreads induced by spinal cord stimulators is to install another stimulator!) Where would I be now if I had done that? When I look at my wrists now I have to think about it for a second to remember which hand was hopelessly painful and atrophied.

At this rate I am thinking about returning to work in the fall.

I am planning to be right behind you Catra! Please let us know how your meeting with you employer went today.

I am so happy for you James. I really hope that you will be able to return to work in the fall like you want to.

The meeting with my employer this morning seemed like it went okay, though I admit that I was disappointed that there was no resolution to the situation proposed and it was only a meeting for them to gather additional information from me. That was not what I was led to believe it would be and I am a little miffed at the 2 hour drive each way for the 35 minute meeting....but it is what it is. I was told that I would be contacted in a couple of days after the HR guy discusses everything with his supervisor so we shall see. I am so anxious to return and get back to it.

That's great to hear James! What protocol r u using?

My current placement is Anodal electrode on left frontal cortex. reference electrode on right upper arm. I am currently focusing on my difficulty with word naming and other cognitive issues.

Which protocol helped with your muscles?

Deb

I don't have a scientifically proven answer to that but I believe what helped the muscles was making myself use them, getting out of the wheelchair and off of the recliner. I was absolutely miserable and the pain was excruciating.

I would ask Dr. Fugedy what electrode placement is the best for muscles. I have not come across the answer to your question in my research.

As far as my research goes it seems to be the old "use it or loose it" at work here not CRPS just killing the muscles. Wish I had an easier answer to your question.

The best explanation of this process is detailed by Catra's journey, one step at a time, every day no matter what. Misery, yes, effective, yes.

Additionally, I believe depression was a factor. I was so beaten down by being put in the wheelchair by the SCS, a treatment that doctors assured me would be successful since I had a "successful" trial.

Hope this helps!

James I tell Deb that everyday, use it or lose it. Thank goodness she has to go to work everyday, it gets her out of bed and moving. If she was a home body her pain would have her on the couch all day. She just can't get past the god awful pain to push on. She's a trooper and a great friend and we push each other.
Question for you, do you know why some crps people have a balance problem and others don't? I've seen a lot of posts about having control over balance, why is our balance system effected? I was always told my short circuit of central nervous system caused my imbalance but when I see rsd people have the same thing I have to assume mine is also from rsd. Does anyone know why?????
We fixed Debs machine problem I believe, but we both still have not seen any improvement at this time. Will keep up the good work and pray for some kind of improvement soon. Thanks all.

I've only ever heard one theory on the balance issue and never seen anything to back it up (haven't looked though either besides a search online to see if the balance problems I was having were in fact related to the RSD). The theory says that because of how messed up the signals are that are coming from our brains (with the pain signals and all that) that there is a slight delay in the signals to "move" going to the RSD side, causing the imbalance. This makes some degree of sense to me because my RSD is in my left foot and I tend to fall to my right side...the rest of my body is moving forward with the motion of movement but my left foot is ever so slightly behind which causes me to fall. I have no idea if this theory is backed up by any sort of proof and would definitely be interested in hearing the "real" answer...but figured I would share this little theory anyway. I cannot for the life of me remember WHERE I read this btw...I read it back when I was in the midst of the worst period of time last year with spread and seratonin syndrome and all that. Many of my memories from that period of time are just GONE. But when people ask about the balance issues that's usually what I tell them and it seems to be something they can understand and wrap their heads around. Not that I want to be spreading false information...I really don't know whether this is the real reason for the balance problems or not...but it's an interesting idea...