[Sophie0513]

I was diagnosed at the end of October 2016. My symptoms began in one foot (burning, tingling, skin color changes, cold to hot, extreme sensitivity on the bottom of my foot) and quickly spread to the other foot . This started around mid September 2016 after receiving a cortisone injection. I saw a pain management doctor who started me on gabapentin 300mg 4x per day. I have my first lumbar sympathetic nerve block scheduled for next week. During this time, I lost 15 pounds because the pain had become so severe I couldn't eat and I became depressed/anxious which led me to seek out the help from a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist recommended Namenda (memantine) and low dose naltrexone because these medications would address my mood and my pain. She also felt that it is better to approach the RSD aggressively. I would welcome any thoughts/suggestions about the medications in conjunction with the nerve blocks,etc. One final note. I had RSD at the age of 37 which began in one knee and traveled to the other. I received nerve blocks and neurontin at the time and it went into remission roughly 1.5 years after I received treatment. I am now 53. The pain management doctor feels that the cortisone injection flared up the RSD.

[CRPSbe]

Originally Posted by Sophie0513

I was diagnosed at the end of October 2016. My symptoms began in one foot (burning, tingling, skin color changes, cold to hot, extreme sensitivity on the bottom of my foot) and quickly spread to the other foot . This started around mid September 2016 after receiving a cortisone injection. I saw a pain management doctor who started me on gabapentin 300mg 4x per day. I have my first lumbar sympathetic nerve block scheduled for next week. During this time, I lost 15 pounds because the pain had become so severe I couldn't eat and I became depressed/anxious which led me to seek out the help from a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist recommended Namenda (memantine) and low dose naltrexone because these medications would address my mood and my pain. She also felt that it is better to approach the RSD aggressively. I would welcome any thoughts/suggestions about the medications in conjunction with the nerve blocks,etc. One final note. I had RSD at the age of 37 which began in one knee and traveled to the other. I received nerve blocks and neurontin at the time and it went into remission roughly 1.5 years after I received treatment. I am now 53. The pain management doctor feels that the cortisone injection flared up the RSD.

I have been on Neurontin/gabapentin for the pain since 2004. I think it is a great medication, esp. for chronic RSD'ers. I take more than you, but my pain was ingrained and had become a cycle and was no longer leaving, so different situation.

Anything can flare up RSD. Mine spread from both legs to both arms spontaneously, just one day... it was there. No explanation for it. And my right arm was already starting to turn cold (the right was affected more than the left).

I wish you well. The LDN is much talked about here, so people will be able to talk to you about their experiences with it!

Good luck!

[Sophie0513]

Thank you Marleen