[Ozzieace]

I need some advice!

In November of 2012 i was in a minor car accident, i went to physical therapy for a shoulder joint injury for three months, i was also told that i had whiplash, however my neck never hurt me. I healed from the shoulder injury, and regained all mobility back, i can lift heavy things, full range of motion with a little clicking in the joint, but it does not hurt any longer from that injury...however the burning, stabbing, shocking pain never went away...its a pain that hurts all the time with at times being almost unbearable!

The chiropractor at the pt office told me that it would probably go away with time and to just keep using ice several times a day....it didnt, in fact it got worse, so i called an ortho specialist and after cortizone injections, A cervical epidural that didnt work, he told me that i had three bulging disks in my neck, but it wasnt anything that would need surgery nor what would be causing my pain, so he referred me to a pain management specialist. I had an emg, and it was for the most part normal the doctor said, so he referred me to a neurology specialist.

The neurologist told me that i have rsd. He tried me on several different medications, over the course of mant months, and at my last visit he had me see the nurse practioner....she gave me some lidoderm patches to try and also said continue with ice. I mentioned to her that i had read that ice was the worse thing for rsd, and she said that was not true and everyone reacts differently. She told me that the neuro doctor wanted me to go back to the pain specialist for pain managment.

So today i saw the pain management doctor once again and i tell him whats been going on, how the pain in my shoulder has also spread to my ear and sometimes in the last month also my other shoulder. He tells me i do not have rsd because i do not have sensitive skin, i can wear a t shirt with no problem and it doesnt hurt to touch. He also tells me that since my skin is not shiny or red that there is no way this is rsd. He also says that rsd does not spread, and what i have is actually cervical spondylosis, he wants me to back off all medication over the next three weeks and start taking cymbalta and a compound ointment. He also wants me to come next week for several facet injections.

I do not know what to do....its been a year and three months since the accident, that i have had this burning pain, and the cervical spondylosis that he says i have is a degenrative thing, i dont believe that this pain i have had ever since the injury would be just from old age, nor convienently at the same time as the accident...im only 39! I dont know what to do, i have been told so many things by so many doctors, and we are trying to get litigation going, so i can get some money recouped from the accident, but if all these docotrs are all saying something different i dont know how we will ever settle this!

I am confused and tired of it all, i just want to know what this is for sure so i can continue with my life......any advice?

[Nanc]

Hey Ozzie, sorry you are having such a hard time! I sure hope it is not RSD, but in case it is STOP USING ICE! Ice IS the worst thing for RSD. RSD can in fact spread and it is documented (and I have it throughout most of my body when it started in my face). Ice alone can cause spread to happen. I would also reccommend that you find new doctors. I know that is easier said than done, but if you do have RSD and continue to see doctors that obviously know nothing about it does you more harm than good. I went thru like 14 doctors within 2 years...very frustrating, but something I had to do because they were all idiots!

You do not have to have every symptom for it to be RSD. But you do need to rule out anything else, like a pinched nerve or something.

Wishing you the best,
Nanc

[Lottie]

Hi ozzieace - so sorry for your struggles.. Sadly, a good Doc is hard to find. The best thing you can do is educate yourself. CRPS can be different in different people. I never had sensitive skin (allodynia). But my leg/foot had mind boggling pain and temperature changes, swelling in the beginning but not now .this forum will teach you a lot. Drop by anytime! Wishing you wellness! ~ Lottie

[Ozzieace]

Thanks for the replies.....I am absolutely in tears! I just called the first doctors office who originally said that I had Causalgia, to tell him that the pain doctor wants to take me off the meds the other doctor prescribed and try something new and also that he doesn't believe that I have Causalgia, but rather something cervical....and they told me that Cerivcal issue is just a term not a cause of the pain, and that I should continue with my prescribed medication. So I have two doctors telling me two different things. I feel that I am getting no where. I just want someone to tell me what the heck this is, so I can know and get on with my life and hopefully be able to start litigation so that I can get my money back for all these doctor bills. As of right now we are paying for everything until the doctors can figure out a medical term for it!

[Nanc]

How frustrating! I think you need to find a third doctor and see what he/she says. You need confirmation so you can get the proper treatment...and to start litigation.

[Lottie]

Cervical spondylodis is diagnosed by mri . And yes it can occur in your thirties - I was 38. But the symptoms you describe are not necessarily due to it. It is certainly possible you have two things going on.I have had 4 spine surgeries and as bad as I hurt, it was nothing like the mind boggling pain of CRPS. Burning and electric shocks sound CRPSy to me.