Hey Vanessa. I'm still sorry to hear how hard of a time you are having with your rsd But I'm glad the new pm is a lot better than your old one.



With the handicapt thing. What you have to do is have one of your doctors write a script allowing you to have a handicapt thing. Then go to the dmv place I believe or some place that deals with that stuff and give them the script. It also helps to have a few articles on rsd so they know that isn't curable. We forgot and my mom had to explain over and over what was wrong. After all that, you should get a handicapt tag.

I believe my rsd is beginning to spread into my mouth/throat also. It isn't bad yet, but I can feel it starting. And I am starting to feel really thirsty all the time. What I find that helps me is to drink cool drinks, but not with ice. Caffeine kinda irritates my throat so I try to stay away from that. Really thin drinks (like water) kinda hurt sometimes because they go down so fast so I drink lemonade, gatorade (a lot), and stuff like that. And what I also found that helps is cough drops. Not the strong ones, but they simple $2 bag of the cherry flavored ones. They help out a lot for me.


I hope you get better soon. I'm thinking about you.

Hugs

Nikki

Hi Vanessa, What a girl, and only 17. When I needed a handicapped tag, I didn't wait for the dr. to OK it. I took the paper to him and said please sigh this , I had all I could filled out,. I didn't give him much time to think. I've been doing this so long, I don't put up with much. I'm always very kind and very strong. I will pray for you, and good luck honey.

Hi Vanessa! I just want to say that you are in my prayers. I too am sorry to hear that your going through such a tuff time! hang in there sweet one, we are here for you. God Blless you, Vanessa. Love, Desi

Hi Vanessa, I'm sorry you are going through so much. I can't believe the PT'S put you through so much torture.I have been to 4 different therapists. They all just worked on me for a month and when I showed no improvement they discontinued the treatment. The whole time I was having therapy my rsd was spreading so it was obvious the treatment wasn't working. They should have seen you were not getting any better. Never be afraid to speak up and end any treatment that you feel is not in your best interests. I was a RN for over 20 years and am amazed at how afraid people are to speak up to their medical team. Please don't be afraid. This is your body and you have every right as a patient to refuse any treatment you are not comfortable with!
For your question on nerve blocks. Where I go they do a trial of 3 nerve blocks. If they are not successful or only minimally successful they do not continue past 3. If they are successful they will suggest more. The first 1 that I had gave me 20 hours relief from the cold and the mottled color but minimal relief from pain. The next one only gave me 7 hours of minimal relief from all rsd symptoms. For the third, they wanted to do a chemical sympathectomy. I said, No. That was the end of the blocks for me. Every one has a different experience so you have to decide what is best for you.I was 9 months into my rsd with spread already occuring so perhaps that is why they didn't work for me. The PM doc I currently go to feels that for any rsd treatment to be effective it has to be done within weeks of symptom onset {like anyone is diagnosed that early!!!}
As far as your question on the handicapped tag for your car...that's an easy fix. I went on line to the local DMV and sent for the form . When it came in the mail I brought it to my Dr. She signed it..I mailed it...In a week I had my tag. That's the easy part. Now.....finding a handicapped parking place...that's like finding the proverbial needle in the haystack.I think we could start a whole new thread just on that subject. Anyway, I hope this helps you out a little. Please let me know how you make out with the blocks.Take care,Jeannie

I resisted the shrinks before I started having problems but they've been fairly helpful and non-accusatory. For the first several years the main problem was pain. Oh sure, there were a host of other afflictions which came and went with the pain. But I believed if I could get a handle on the pain then I'd be OK. I guess I still believe this.

My problem with passing out is at night. There is various GI pain when the problem flares up and I pass out. Usually at about pain level 8. Recently I've found laying on my stomach and covering my arm and shoulder can make it pass. I also need a hyocyamine (for spasms).