I've dealt with RSD/CRPS in my upper and lower limbs and in my face, and from my experience as well as others I've talked to, find it improbable that you had it in your face since 2007 without being diagnosed. You can rest a limb without moving and get some relief. With your face it's hard to avoid speaking, eating, and drinking--and gosh even breathing are an issue.

Surgical procedures aren't ideal, but spread can be minimized when precautions are taken. The surgeon should be careful to cause as little trauma as possible to the area--frankly if they were more careful in the first place many of us that develop RSD/CRPS from a surgery could be saved a life of pain. Undergoing a block right before surgery can help, Ketamine can be used as part of the anesthesia, and Lidocaine patches can be used around the surgery site during recovery. (I underwent surgery on the limb that was my original RSD/CRPS site without complications and I'm betting newer surgical protocols are even better now.)

That's what I would think as well. I mean, there is most definitely nerve damage in my face from my zygo fracture and some days are worse than others regarding the pain intensity, but no where NEAR what my left leg feels like!! The face thing was the only possible connection to where Kevscar was going.

They have most recently began performing a minimal and focused surgical procedure for hyerparathyroid that is definitely more appealing. Not sure how well a lido patch on my neck/throat is going to feel...But hey, whatever ends up working. I;m a work in progress, you know!

They work better than you'd think. You can always use straight lidocaine cream if you prefer. You just need to get through a week or so post op.

I had my first bad reaction to a stellate ganglion block last week. Lidocaine patches to my throat an well as Epsom salt cream did the trick after a few days to reduce my pain and swelling that had been escalating to a scary degree.

If surgery is the direction this goes, I will DEFINITELY keep the cream in mind!! Thank you!

It's stronger than the patches but doesn't last as long.

Went to ortho Monday afternoon. New orders for:
~PT 2x/week for 6 weeks
~Rollator walker
~Referral for neuro

Went from ortho to PCP.
New orders for:
~Increase gaba to 400mg 3x/day
~Alendronate 70mg weekly
~bupropion 150mg 2x/day

Discussed all things RSD related. Still will not sign my physical for my nursing final (I'm going to have to start accepting some stuff I don't want to accept here)

On the "GO ME!" side...I have cut my smoking in HALF with a goal of completely quitting by April 5.

Good news on the visits. It's great you get to start PT. I really liked my walker, it's a lot easier to replicate a natural gate than on crutches for sure. Glad to hear about the alendronate, I am so hoping that gives you better pressure tolerance and less pain. Keep it up on kicking the cigs, your recovery will only go up from there!

Littlepaw