Welcome Shelby,

Sorry to hear about all the problems you have been having with Dr.'s and your stim. I would like to suggest you copy and paste your thread over to scs and pain pump:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/fo...ysprune=&f=118

As far as a good Dr., may I ask where you are located? Or you can look on the RSDSA.org site.

Regarding meds, there are SO MANY options. You must find a doc you trust to work with asap. A very low dosage of a time released opiate should be considered since you've developed a resistance. A dosage of 10 mg every 24 hrs would not likely put you to sleep all day.

You might also want to look at Dr. Hooshmand's 4 F's diet for RSD. I was sleeping too much, and a major reduction in simple carbs changed my energy levels dramatically.

Other things to try for non narcotic pain relief--Lidoderm Patches, warm bathes with Epsom salts, warm water pt or exercise, massage, etc. There are lots of good tips here on the forum that work for different people. An invaluable tip I picked up is to use a down pillow in the car when I'm being driven any distance as it helps protect my arm from vibrations, for example...

Rsd is so different for everyone. It sucks, but it's basically Trial and error until you find what's right for you. My scs seems to have worked out, but others haven't. I had zero success with neurontin. Others do great with it. Right now, I take topomax, welbutrin, Valium for jitters/sleep issues, and dilaudid( which weareweaning out), and naproxen. weaning down from pain meds seems strangeafter all this time. That's exciting for me! I also take some supplements b-12, vitamin C,and calcium/vitD due to such poor bones from the rsd. Anyway, hopefully you will find a combo. Lots people like creams and patches but they never worked for me.

Oh also never leave the house without pillows. Two or three different sizes. Ican always use them for something lol.

Hopefully we can keep spreading the word of this awful disease and People will start figuring out it needs attention.

Feel better soon!!!