I had the block done and only saw the articles after it. It makes sense not to do the block in my knee, but it's too late now. And I do feel like my (possible) RSD is worse since having done it friday. He told me to basically incite pain. For the first 3-5 hours and see how it felt. So while I didn't go crazy, I did wear a pair of jeans for a bit and laid with the blankets over my knee and it seemed ok. But it was hard to tell because my knee already felt sore from the injections and had bandaids all over it. However by that evening I was feeling the cinder block on my knee (best way for me to describe my pain) and now 3 days later I feel like someone came and sat on the cinder block. Would it be normal for diagnostic purposes for the block to only last a half a day?? And what kind of doctor would be good to try next?

Find a reputable pain management specialist - a medical doctor board certified in anesthesiology and pain management. You may also consider consulting a neurologist and a physical therapist. If you do actually have CRPS, you don't want to fool around with clinicians who don't understand CRPS. Also, read the links we have provided you. It is vital to be well educated when you go to talk with these docs.

Sorry you are having issues. I hope you get a diagnosis soon and on the right treatment plan.

My main symptom is also sensitivity as well as severe pain. I am unable to touch my left leg without getting really bad pain. For nearly 2 years I was totally unable to wear any shoes or socks. The sensitivity gradually reduced (although it isn't all gone) by desensitising my food. Sounds strange put I stroked it with feathers and soft objects. It was part of my PT sessions but I also had to do it at home. It was TORTURE but I'm now unable to just about tolerate footwear. Desensitisation may be something you want to look into whilst awaiting a diagnosis.

Other symptoms for me include colour changes (affected limbs go blue, red etc), swelling, excess sweating in affected limbs, tremors and muscle spasms and also increase hair and nail growth on affected limbs. I also suffer from dystonia which can be a symptom of RSD - my leg rotates to the side and stays like that permanently.

Keep pushing at your doctors for a diagnosis. I know its hard but the sooner you are diagnosed the better and if it is RSD, the quicker its diagnosed the more chance you have of going into remission.

Also, try and keep mobile as much as possible. I KNOW its hard when in so much pain but it is important. My doc always told me 'use it or lose it'. Build up to what you can tolerate. There is a fine line between doing too much and too little.

Let us know how you get on. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.

Just seen that you have also had the nerve block in the affected limb. I had a block in my affected leg and couldn't walk after it. All of my coordination had gone. It took me over a year to learn to walk again. Like yourself, I only read the article saying never to inject into an RSD limb after the procedure (I was only 12 at the time so didn't research RSD much then).

Something you could look into is the epidural. I had a ketamine epidural and it did decrease the pain somewhat, although it did only last a few hours. From that though my doctors determined that oral ketamine might work so I am now taking that - it only decreases the pain somewhat and is no where near as affective as the epidural.

Of course, everyone is different and what works for one person wont work for another.

I hope you find relief soon.

thanks for sharing! lottie thanks for your post about symptoms too. sounds like not every symptom necessarily occurs with everyone with rsd?
also, seems like different drs have different views on rsd... poorly understood condition??

hope you find good drs who can help you asbandr!

Thank you everyone for all of the input. I'm still uncertain as to my diagnosis but I see the doctor again on tuesday. I am glad that I found this forum and can ask about others experience.