It certainly sounds like RSD to me but can't you get a scan to ensure it is not a trapped nerve.

What kind of scan like and MRI?

I had one and was told it looks like I have a full release but, they did not do a contrast so I wonder how that can be seen.

Not sure after my botched infusion which left me with an infection from hand to shoulder they did an untrasound and found I had 7 DVT's in my arm, don't now if trapped nerves would show on one

Has anyone here been able to work while having CRPS/RSD?

The reason I ask is that after my surgery my plan was to find a job closer to home and go to night school. Of course now there is a big question mark on both. However, I have been conducting a job search but I am afraid that if I get something I won't be able to handle it due to the meds and constant pain. Makes me wonder if it is doable.

Hi Larry. I had hoped to return to the same career I had before I took a long leave to raise my child. I had just started to apply for like positions when I came down with crps. I now have a very casual job that allows flexible hours and I get a fraction of the pay I used to bring home. I'm going through a bit of the grief process because I used to be very good at what I did and now it looks like I have to give it up. In my mind the meds would not allow me to be as alert as I would need to be. For me, the distraction of any work benefits me so I'm not concentrating on the pain. I guess I'm lucky in that I found a place to work that realizes my illness and it's limitations. They are very protective of me. With that said, I still would rather return to my original career.

I completely understand what you are going through.

Hello

I've been told by my primary doctor that he suspected possible RSD/CRPS so he sent me to a neurologist she put me on neurontin to help calm the nerves that may have been aggravated. Also, the person who did my surgery had me get an MRI of my hand and wrist which showed some lucencies and put in the report that maybe RSD or arthritis was involved. When I show the report to my neurologist she said that the RSD was a garbage diagnosis and she did not think I had it and now my former hand specialist and primary doctor think that I do not have RSD/CRPS because I do not show enough symptoms.

I also started seeing a pain specialist and he started out saying he thought I had a form of RSD/CRPS on the first visit and then on my second when I came in for a possible sympathetic ganglion block we discussed the block and he took a look at my hand again and stated he does not think I have RSD/CRPS due lack of symptoms.

Now I don't know what to think because I have quite a lot of pain but, I do not have much swelling nor discoloration, I can handle touch and heat and cold are only a minor difference. So, my main symptoms are pain, some burning sensation in my hand and when I sit and lay down some burning sensation from my shoulder and near shoulder blade area that seems to radiate down.

So, I am very confused with the back and forth diagnosis on this and still have a boat load of pain but maybe not the RSD/CRPS symptoms.

Any advice with my situation?

Please

Yeah, for your neurologist who says CRPS is a "garbage diagnosis," I say she is a garbage neurologist. But for my neurologist at 6 wks post-op who said he strongly suspected CRPS, I would have sunk to 6 ft under in no time flat.

Why have you not had a stellate block? Little to lose and everything to gain...time's a wast'in! Get much beyond where you are at time-wise, then stellate blocks or much else are useless. Get proacvtive....insist on a SGB for diagnostic reasons if nothing else, or find a pain management doc who knows what the heck they are doing. You are between a rock and a hard spot right now and you need to move, and fast! It's your body and your call...

MY advice, would be if your not getting what you want from your doctor find a new one, i went through several. Who said oh, it might be rsd, but i dont know. They wasted Valuable time. Nerve blocks are best early on.

I hope you get some answers soon, and relief. Good luck