Which gets your blood pressure up more? Pain or a Dr. that tells you that pain is whats doing it but doesn't do anything for it? LOL

All kidding aside. I do hope you get a good Dr. at this pain clinic. You have been in too much pain for too long.

Ada

Allen
Just a little note...
I have had high blood pressure for a while now.. maybe 10 years. It became a lot worse in 2001 when I got RSD the first time.

I took Norvasc for many many years to control my BP. I tried SO many meds and had terrible side effects. Norvasc was the only one that seemed to get along with my system. Then, when I got RSD, and my pressures went up, we tried several meds in addition. Settled on Avalide, which is a combination medication. It has a bit of diuretic in it.

Well, when I got RSD this time, I found that clonadine was all over the net as being a med good for RSD, so I requested to be put on it. I tried the patch, but my skin reacted to it. So, we tried the pills. Pills are a LOT less expensive than the patches! Anyway... I used the pills for over a year. BP levels were "ok" but not as consistent as they were with the Norvasc.

During this time, I had a very cold hand a lot of the time. I carried a glove with me all the time. When my right hand started to become involved, I started wearing two gloves. It is amazing how you can learn to type with gloves on!

Well, I still had a big 90 day supply of Norvasc at home. I asked my doc if she would mind if I switch back to it and use it up. Within 3 days - I felt a LOT better RSD wise. Did not notice a difference in my pain... but the swelling is about half what it was..... HOWEVER...... my hand and limb is no longer cold. I have had one or two instances in the last 6 weeks of it being just a little cool... that's it. With Clonadine... it was ice cold almost all the time.

SO --- work with your doc to make the High blood pressure work FOR your RSD. The small amount of diuretic in the Avalide helps with the fluid retention of some of the other meds I am on. And, the switch back to Norvasc has been just amazing in the comfort of my bad arm and hand. Also, 3 months ago, it was very painful to hold a cold can of pop in my bad hand. Now, it is not nearly as bad.

I've been using baclofen at night for sleep. 20-30 mg. Works a lot better than any of the anti-depressants have. And, helps SO much with those darned spasms!! I have had so many electrical type zingers!!! Baclofen has all but knocked them out.

Good luck Allen... hugs to you!!!
Jules

Hey Allen...

Keep at it and keep poking those drs till they sort the bp and the pain out it's great they took you seriously... (FINALLY!!)

I once made the mistake of going to the ER in my NHS chair (after getting RSD and already being unable to walk) after being dropped and breaking my ankle... The nurse took my full history and then said "WHERE DID YOU STEAL THE WHEELCHAIR FROM??"
me> I'm in one full time because of RSD.
nurse> BUT YOU'RE YOUNG! YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T IN WHEELCHAIRS! OF COURSE YOU CAN WALK!!
me> err, look at my feet.

That ended that. (Also helped having mum waving my med prescriptions around + me crying/ screaming and all of that lot).

Keeping my fingers crossed that things get sorted soon for you! can't believe you were suffering so much in silence! Has the elavil helped? and did I hear you correctly? they have PM clinics staffed by PA's?

Love ya and take CARE!!

Froggsy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx