I cannot tell you how many docs I saw, at least 2 GP's, 3 orthopedic surgeons. 2 sport medicine docs 2 pain management docs (one who almost killed me by injecting lidocaine into a spinal vein). 1 amazing orthopedic doc for the Cornhusker football team took one look at me (in the midst of telling me my scans and xrays were "normal") and diagnosed me without laying a hand on me. THEN even with a diagnosis it took 3 different pain docs (all in the same clinic) to find the right "fit". It is 200 miles one way to this fella but I trust him as much as my primary (who is my friend 1st and my caregiver 2nd). The trips are hell but he sees me each trip whether I am scheduled to see him or 1 or his wonderful PA-C's. I know my injury was May10th 1998 about 8 in the evening, but don't recall the exact day I met my diagnosing doc or this doc.

Hard hard work

My orthopedic dr suspected rsd, then sent me to a pm dr who confirmed it and then I got a second opinion from a neurologist who confirmed it too. This was all within a six month period. I was lucky about it being diagnosed early at least, but it's still been a very painful experience.

My partner has CRPS that started seemingly without an injury (at least one significant enough to notice). She saw 3 GPs at her local surgery who were not convinced that her pain was genuine or at the level she was reporting and refused to refer her to anyone.

However, i was due to see a rheumatologist a couple months later and took her along. That consultant recognised her symptoms quickly, and was very keen that the situation was investigated right away. They had a pain clinic colleague and an OT come take a look at her within 30 minutes or so.

So a relatively fast diagnosis at 3 months, although the management of her condition over the following 9 years has been sporadic, poor and uncoordinated. In my opinion it seems to be a lucky dip as to when you get to meet a medical professional with prior experience of this illness or the capacity to spot it. Awareness of CRPS among GPs in particular in the UK seems to be really low, at least in my neck of the woods. (South west UK). I have often sat with my partner in GP appointments and had to explain it to them, or watch as they google it. Her current GP is simply amazing but took a long time to find