Does anyone else experience intermittent types of pain?
I do and it makes it difficult to describe when reporting to my P.M. Dr.
For example I may be at a pain level 2-3 for a time, but then it may flare to a 5-9 for maybe 15 - 30 min. and then resume 2-3. The types of pain vary from the burning to an intense ache to sharp to "pins and needles". All with no pattern. Of course, P.T. or difficult activities flare it but sometimes there's no pattern.

I've read many posts from some of you regarding flares and remission for lengths of time.
I'm also following many of you who have the SCS and my heart goes out to you all!
But I was wondering if any of you experience this because I'm nearing the maximum on my nerve blocks and they are now pushing me toward the SCS and I'm really afraid of going there if the nerve blocks are no longer offering much improvement.

Hi,

That's sounds very like my experience with CRPS. I can be having a fairly good day with lowish 2-3 pain, then have an intense patch of much higher pain levels of the 'now I'm stabbing your skin with a million tiny daggers' 5-7 type - which might last anything from 5 to 30 mins. Occasionally during a flare, I'll be at a lvl 5-6 for most of the time and have much worse stabbing pains at lvl 8 or more. My background pain is mostly of the deep icy bone ache type, and it really gets to me at times. Then the flare stabbing pains come and I wish it was just the bone type again!

I don't have an SCS, and have no wish to have one at the moment. Most days I cope ok, so I guess I am very lucky in comparison to some folk on here... I never had nerve blocks so I can't comment on them. I'm taking Lyrica at a low level dose at the moment, which has removed the worst of the stabbing pains for now. When things get very bad I have some lidocaine patches and tramadol, neither of which are as effective as I would like.

From reading and talking to my pain doc and physio, I think CRPS pain can come in waves of differing types and levels of pain - its one of the reasons diagnosis can be difficult. I've always been up front about pain levels with my doc and physio, and neither has questioned it not being a constant lvl 5 for example. Maybe I'm lucky with my doc?

Good luck,

Bram.

Yes, this does happen to me. My pain is usually at a 8 on most days but then every once in awhile i will just get a moment where the pain is so unbearable that I feel like I am going to pass out. Sometimes I know what causes it and other times I don't. I would explain it to your doctor the same way you just explained it. Try to write it down whenever it happens and what you are or were doing that way you can look back and maybe figure out what makes it happen. I am so sorry this is happening. I hope it gets better for you! I just did the trial for SCS, and I would make sure you have a great doctor and do lots of research before making your decision. Good luck to you!

Thanks,
i replied to your post as well because I have been following your struggles with SCS trial. Sure wish RSD/CRPS had more clear cut treatments and expectations.

I haven't had CRPS for long but my pain definitely fluctuations both in type and intensity. The primary types of pain I experience are burning, crushing and stabbing. I experience all of these types in varying combinations and with varying intensity throughout each day.

I do have a consistent sort of baseline of pain which lies underneath any other symptoms I experience. I'm not sure how to describe this pain. Throbbing, achy soreness...but that doesn't really capture it. The point is, that pain is the only pain which is consistent; all the other types of pain I experience fluctuate greatly.

Me too!! lol It would also be nice to have more doctors who knew more about it and what to do. I have faith that one day something will happen for all of us to help us all out! We just have to hang on and support eachother until that day. Our community is a great one! Full of love and support! And I am so greatful to have found it!