Hi Abbey, I sincerely hope you do not have RSD. It's good you are seeing other Drs. and getting more testing done. As hard as it is, I agree with others the importance of staying mobile and getting pt and keeping range of motion. For me a neuclear bone test confirmed my Drs. RSD diagnosis among other tests. My original diagnosis was at least 4 years after my RSD by an orthopedic dr. across the country. then confirmed by 3 neurologists and another orthopedic dr. that oversaw my PT. Early diagnosis and treatment give you the best shot at remission if you do have RSD-that is on your side. Let us know what your future appointments reveal-If you do have RSD, you will find much comfort and good information here. Hope the best for you. Loretta

Thanks guys for all your advice and support! I think I do have RSD and underlying problem. lol so sad.

I don't know if I'm considered early diagnosis since now I'm in the beginning of my 8th month with this pain except before it was less severe but **positivity**! (hopefully I do get better?)

When I walk on my leg, it feels like it gives out or it doesn't know how to function. I'm walking very slowly now.

I went to physical therapy last week. ( I was attending physical therapy for my hamstring injury) My physical therapist tried the Electronic Muscle Stimulation machine and I didn't feel any pressure or electric shocks on my calf. She told me that's a sign of nerve damage- loss of sensation. Is that considered advanced RSD?
:/

This Thursday I have an appointment with a orthopedic doctor. Hopefully he's familiar with RSD.
This Friday I'm seeing a neurologist.

I will definitely keep you guys updated.

It's entirely possible that there is some damage, inflammation or scar tissue that is impinging, irritating or compressing a nerve and that is responsible for the symptoms further down in your calf. It may not be that but there are lots of things that could be going on some pretty minor and others more serious. You didn't say what your original hamstring injury was not what the treatment was and that may make a difference to what could be going on inside your thigh.

It's also possible that the feeling you have of your leg wanting to give way or not responding is due to the lengthy period of limited use or disuse. People are often amazed by how useless their limbs are after even relatively short periods of immobilisation, injury or incorrect use. It can take a long time to recover normal function and it can be a real effort to consciously re-learn functions or movement patterns that you are used to having without thinking about them. Limps in particular can become very habit forming even long after there is nothing wrong with a leg.

There isn't a concept of advanced CRPS nowadays. It's generally divided into acute and chronic but the 'old' concept of different stages where the severity increased with length of time has been largely discredited by increased research. The clinical signs and symptoms and the severity don't necessarily work on a linear pattern so the experienced doctors have long since abandoned the concept of stages of CRPS. In fact, any doctor who does use that concept should be treated with some caution because it would tend to suggest that he or she isn't up to date with the research and latest thinking on the condition.

I am not for a second trying to minimise your problems or suggest you don't have CRPS - I am just trying to highlight that there could be other reasons for some of the problems which might not be so bad so don't get too depressed about it all just yet. Even with CRPS, lack of use of an affected limb can contribute to the symptoms someone has rather than all of those symptoms being caused directly by the CRPS itself.

Hang in there and see what the other doctors have to say. Just one word of caution which is that orthopaedic doctors are not always the best at identifying CRPS - they have usually long since discharged patients and therefore don't see it often. They can also be a bit too happy to find surgical solutions for everything which is exactly what a CRPS patient doesn't need. Don't get panicked into making a rapid decision about anything.

My hamstring injury was in June. For three months, I was immobile.I would walk when capable but literally couldn't most of the time. I had an MRI that showed nothing,except inflammation. Then I was able to walk almost normal but not jump. However it got worse in December and now I can't do much except limp around.

I went to the orthopedic doctor today and he didn't know what to say. He wouldn't give me another MRI since the first one in September showed nothing. He prescribed me Neurontin 100 mg and told me to continue Physical Therapy and to see what the neurologist says.

I don't think he's even familiar with RSD. He wouldn't make any comment about it. He said he doesn't know if I have it.

He asked me if I had a psychiatric problem. I told him NOT AT ALL! THE PAIN IS MAKING ME DEPRESSED! He was nice but not helpful which is what I expected. Then he suggested I continue walking on it and avoid the wheelchair.

Since I live in NYC I might look into the Hospital for Special Surgery or Mount Sinai Pain Management Center. Hopefully my insurance is accepted.

Abbey, Hang in there. When is your appt. with neurologist? Is the neurologist experienced in RSD? Is there a local support group near you? RSDSA.org -the national organization has the list of groups in your zip code area. The group leader may have informaton for you in your area. Hang on to hope-it takes many tests and experience to correctly diagnose this disorder. It is certainly natural for you to be anxious and experience depression. Keeping getting as much informaton as possible. Neurotin is a common med for RSD-I was on 3200 mg. for several years, but no longer take it. I no longer have the electric shocks. Was on it for a few years-have had RSD since 1996, but not diagnosed for 5 years. Let us know how you are doing and what neuro. says. loretta

The neurologist told me I don't have RSD.
He said I have minor nerve damage -cold feet, tingling sensation in toes,and recommended light physical therapy.
He checked my reflexes which were normal. He put vibrations on my leg and foot. I felt them so idk? Does having normal reflexes and feeling sensations without pain rule out RSD?

I'm really confused.
I told him that physical therapy made my pain worse. He said that I may have reinjured my nerve/muscle in physical therapy since my physical therapist made me use weights.

I don't know what to believe anymore. My symptoms have been getting a lot better this week even though it's uncomfortable to walk.
I'm probably going to give myself more time to see if my leg will get better. My parents refuse to make another appointment because they think I'm paranoid and the vascular doctor was wrong in diagnosing me with RSD especially since it isn't his field.

So I may be experiencing pain because I reinjured the muscle in physical therapy and my sciatica nerve is sensitive?

Thanks again everyone. I probably will still keep you guys updated because I'm still unsure. Maybe I'll seek a second opinion if my symptoms worsen.

I'm disappointed though because I didn't ask this neurologist certain questions because I forgot a lot of details.

Abbey, thank you for letting us know about your neuro appt. That's GOOD NEWS
from your neuro. Have you looked at the photos on this rsd site? Gives you an idea of what some of the RSD feet-legs hands look like. You haven't mentioned swelling-edema, which is a common symptom of RSD. Another symptom for many of us is sensitivity to touch. I'm hoping you don't have this- and I know you are scared of the possibility. Even before I was diagnosed, I was sent to physical therapy, which I am so grateful for, as I regained used of my shoulder-arm, then later when it spread to hand, was diagnosed- pt done in the right way, keeps us mobile.
Keep us posted-hoping for the best for you. loretta