I fell in 2006 threw a building shattered heel snapped my wrist in 3 places and compression fractures in my back, it took me a year of physical therapy and I went back to work , btw I'm a union iron worker . Anyway I worked for about a year and started missing alot of time cause of being sick and totally fatigued all the time and then it really hit me I didn't get off the couch for months at a time. I was really bad for over two years . Then dr swArtzmann finally gave me a diagnosis of rsd. The kettimine treatment really helped me my face was so big and pale all my internal organs aren't functioning properly and put on 30 lbs. With the 2 week infusion I lost 25 lbs during the two weeks of treatment . AnywAy do u guys think this fall caused this. It took over a year to really hit me hard dead in my tracks. My dr says it is and I'm trying to get my employer to put me back on workers comp. I have fool body rsd and I'm bed rident for weeks and months at a time. My other dr dr gettson out of cherry hill also said it was the fall. In the mean time I just went to my court hearing for ss disab..it looks pretty good that I'm approved but nit really certain.

Dan,

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your situation. This place is good resource for information and support.

Yes, it is very possible that the fall started the CRPS (RSD). Sounds like your doctors agree. It doesn't take much trauma at all to start the CRPS process in motion. It is a very misunderstood condition, even by professionals.

Dr. Schwartzman is one of the best doctors in the country for this condition, so you are seeing the best.

Keep fighting for the benefits you deserve. I assume that you have legal representation for Social Security Disability? Between WC and SSDI, it can be a battle!

It definitely could be that the fall caused the RSD. Sounds like you were injured all through your body. You have seen one of the best RSD docs in the country. If your doctors think that the RSD was caused by the fall then that's a good sign as far as taking things back to WC...unless you settled your case and do not have open medical. If you went to trial and were awarded open medical then you definitely had a shot at getting WC to pay...which can be a mixed blessing. Financially, it can take a big burden off of you...but you will be more limited in what you can do for treatment (possibly) as you will always have to get approval prior to any new treatments, which can delay things and cause you additional stress. I don't know where you live and what the specific laws are there...but you may be restricted to which doctors you are allowed to see in order for WC to pay, subjected to IMEs, etc. Don't get me wrong...if they should pay then they should pay...but just be aware that sometimes (depending on the company and all) WC can be SUCH a headache. Stay focused on doing what you need for your health and making sure that you have the best quality of life possible. Good luck with SS and with WC...I hope that things turn out well for you.

I was approved my ss dis benefits .thank you for wishing me good luck. I just went to a dr from my wc case worker.wc doctor told my case worker that I am totally disabled right now and need kettimine infusion immediately edie it spreads anymore.my case worker told the dr that it is only experimental right now. The dr told her the deal about kettamine and how it is changing people's lives. It was funny . Anyway thanks for your support and being so kind. Hope you are doing well & pain free sweety

Congrats on getting the SS benefits...that has got to be such a load off your mind. I hope that you get the treatments you need and that they take away your pain. Work comp just blows my mind sometimes...do they realize if they got you the treatments you needed WHEN you needed them instead of delaying and fighting you would cost them less in the long run because you would be better, sooner, and able to return to some sort of work...all of which would mean less money out of their pockets. At any rate...good luck with it all and keep us posted!

Congratulations on your SSDI. I know that has to be a relief off of you. I am also a workers comp. person and know how frustrating it can be when they want to argue about giving you treatments or medications that might help. I will definitely say a prayer for you.

Any kind of injuries, from mild injuries to the very worst of injuries, can cause RSD. Medical professionals (doctors and scientists) do not yet really understand why a person with a certain type and severity of injury will get RSD while another person with the same type and severity of injury will not get RSD.

On August 25, 2001, I was a pedestrian struck and injured by a car while crossing the street on a crosswalk. I was thrown 40 feet. My RSD started in my left knee, before spreading to my left leg, and then to my whole body. I know many people who had the same type and severity of injuries I had in my left knee, but these people (good for them ) did not get RSD.

If your RSD got caught early, you may have the chance of getting rid of it, but only if it is treated properly, by a compassionate and knowledgeable doctor. I heard Dr. Schwartzman is one of the best RSD doctors. If I had had the financial means, I would have seen him, because I am especially interested in the inpatient RSD ketamine coma procedure. The word "coma" used to scare me; it does not anymore. I think it is like general anesthesia (I had nine of them), but lasts longer.

Good luck to you, and let us know how you are doing.

I would say it did. My injury didn't start to effect me till a few months later really. They gave me a possible diagnosis of CRPS about 2 weeks after I they saw me knee. But I did not feel any real effects for a good while. stage 3 hit me like brick wall(2 years later as well). one day I was ok, next I had to beg for a ride at 3 AM to the hospital

Thanks kitty , you are rite dr SwArtzmann. Is the man too see, I have had the 10 day out patient and one little tune up. That was back in sept of last year. I've been waiting to get my ss or workmans comp to pay for the next one cause it is soo expensive.less than an. Hour away from me too. I'm see n his protege dr Phillip gettson now in cherry hill. He is awesome and is gonna do my next inj treatment real soon. He actually has a chauffer that picks u up at your house and takes you to your treatment , then brings you home. Great guy too