Hi AZ-DI, I hope your feeling better today. Though my several of my drs have confirmed more spread in my limbs, they are keeping me on the same meds but at higher doses. I hope that your drs can find a way to keep you as pain free as possible. Take Care.

Hi Az-Di,

I have tried most of the meds and treatments for CRPS over the years,and had the stellate blocks many times without too much trauma ...the meds are all trial and error as we are all different, and I agree that most of us will always need some from of meds to maintain.
What I do on my own, now that PT is off my books for insurance reasons, is adaptive Yoga... and it is helping so much! My body feels relief as does my mind. I also use magnesium supplement for my muscles and cramps mostly,but it does also calm nerves, somewhat. Short walks when I am able also help keep me going. I don't know. We just keep on trying!!

May we all have easing from this pain,

Hana

Since I am newly diagnosed the first treatment so far is Gabapentin which is I think a antidepressant right? side effects tired all the time even if I cant always fall asleep, seems like more swelling then normal but it could also be just the rsd spreading again.

for pain coverage I have tried
Physical therapy but I was only allowed 15 visits a year. did have to relearn to walk apx 4 mo after the accident with one pt , i hated him he would use his body weight to force my leg straight. some of the worst pain ever.

second round of pt a year later this one insisted on icing my leg every time I left in more pain then when I entered but she was the first one who thought of rsd and correlated my reaction to ice and it.

medications i have tried for pain control without knowing it was rsd

baclifin (sp?) I had hallucinations but it did help with pain via cramp up.(off)
flexiril for spasms and cramp ups (on 10mg 3x daily)
naproxen for swelling- just takes away the worst of it.(0n 500mg twice daily)
vicodin - hurt my tummy (off)
norco- easier on my tummy and takes the top off the pain. (on one 350mg once daily)
lidoderm patch - works well (on only for the worst of flair ups apx 3 patches twice a month)

I am not on all these medication but i am still on some of them hopes that info helps.

AZ-DI
I was one of those they used for trial narcotics from day one and I took so many pills a day for the rsd they didn't have crps back then that I got sick of pills. Along with rsd I had a brain injury and ptsd so I sucked up meds like a vacuum sucks up dirt. I never refused any narcotics and I was fortunate to never get sick from them also. Before I had to go to detox I was on the fentynl <--sp? 100 patch and 120mg of oramorph pills a day. My shoulders and upper arms were so raw from the patch I couldn't use it any more. I took several medications used for other symptoms just for the side effects. Almost 19 years later I am off narcotics, methadone being the last for about 8 years am now scheduled for two neurotransmitters.

It is your body and your decision but if you drop all meds you may increase pain as you let rsd loose and you also may find it difficult to get "back" on meds if your doctors know you decided to drop all meds. They just might think your pain was manageable and not help you. I would think it over very carefully because long term rsd/crps patients in here can see themselves all over again through you . We all had that regime to go through AZ-DI but today they have a much better grip on meds for your affliction than they had 19 yrs ago. Sorry this is so long but I really think you need to evaluate where you stand before you jump! Best off luck with your choices and perhaps you should seek out a neurologist in a pain clinic... I hope your evening goes well and our answers give you positive thoughts. Hugs and smiles from another rsd brother.

Namenda 28 mg at night
Memantine 10 mg 1-3 times per day

Amazing!

I was diagnosed within 6 months of symptoms started pt and did that 6 months, have been on many meds including cymbals a, lyrica, and depression meds sorry can't remember all, gabapentin, clonidine, and many more. Swapped flexeril for bacoflen and take 20 mg baclofen 3x a day currently and can take up to 8 hydrocodone a day they are 5/325. Also have lidocaine gel I can use, and warmth hot showers, and arm brace which is neoprene with lining of fleece. I wish I could get better care, I hate taking the hydrocodone it causes headaches, dry mouth, wide awakeness and many more side effects. Seems dr don't wanna change me tho