So after 2 surgeries, and lots of pain, I a referral from my podiatrist got me to pain management doc. He says I have CRPS RSD or whatever it's called.

I understand from looking around it must be in early stages still, I don't have some of the more extreme swollen foot leg issues etc. But as the day goes by I have horrid pain swelling etc in my foot. Hard to take off shoes, socks, hurts to lay foot on bed certain ways, sheets blanket or dogs rub in it hurt.

He has scheduled me for a sympathetic lumbar nerve block to see if it helps, as I understand to see which type it is.

So any help with any information would be very helpful!

Also is it normal for it to not always hurt? Mine seems to be not as bad I'd I just don't walk... Lol yeah that's helpful for weight loss too!

Hello Brandon,

Sorry for what you are going through. It is no fun needing to be here but welcome nonetheless. I too am a CRPS after foot/ankle surgeries kinda gal. I would very much like to give you a properly welcoming post with my usual tips on where to go for info and my schpiel about making sure it's not nerve entrapment. That said it is late and I am a tired pup so I am going post the link to my favorite info video tomorrow.

For the meantime, know that 80% of people get better over time. Not everyone has all the symptoms and symptoms change. Take at look at the Budapest criteria for CRPS if you question your diagnosis. I never had crazy swelling myself. It IS normal to have swelling after foot surgeries, sometimes for months and that is uncomfortable for anyone CRPS or not. Epsom salt soaks are good for feet and light compression can help after foot surgery if you can tolerate it.

Know that you are not alone in this, there is good support here. Can you give a little more info on your procedures? when, what , hardware, etc?

Hang in there. Things DO get better.
Sending Healing Love,
Littlepaw

little paw,
what is nerve entrapment?

Nerve entrapment is a compressive neuropathy cause by constriction, scar tissue, or mechanical cause. It can even be vascular in nature. When nerves don't have adequate room they don't function properly with the result being pain, numbness, tingling and sometimes temp and color change in the limb. Nerve Entrapment and also injury is an imitator of CRPS. Injuries to nerves are not unusual during surgical procedures, hardware can cause problems too. Somtimes the damage/compression can be helped by injections to reduce scar tissue or surgery to make a repair or remove a painful neuroma. I posted links to resources under NErve Injury Resources just a couple days down in the threads. PM&R doctors with the right training can sometimes find a problem with a nerve on ultrasound by looking for swelling or scar tissue on it. A doctor who does hydrodissections will have the skills to look for this kind of problem. Might be worth a try....

i do have an internal brace in my ankle now, it is not metal though. but i had an X-ray after to make sure it was placed correctly. but i assume that would not show the nerves?

Placed "correctly" can impinge a nerve and it will never show on imaging. I had a neuroma that didn't even show on MRI. Took plastic surgery peripheral nerve specialist to find it with Scratch Collapse Test. I got the sucker taken out. I still have pain there, some of the damage couldn't be repaired optimally but it is MUCH better than it was. I can tolerate sheets now and it doesn't wake me up at night. Socks are still a struggle but they put direct pressure where the neuroma was. But since I live in Austin we only wear socks two months a year anyways.

Sorry for the reason, but welcome to the group. I am newly diagnosed as well and these folks can give you some awsome links to check out.
My RSD doesn't hurt constantly every day, but the more I'm up and moving the more I swell and the more I hurt. I have my sympathetic nerve block on the 17th of next month to see how bad mine is and if it will offer me any relief. I already take anti-inflammatories and am being switched from norco to ms-contin for pain control.
Again welcome this is a great bunch of folks here and are always willing to lend an ear. :hugs:

It absolutely makes sense that it feels best when you're resting it, BUT that is a short term strategy. The less you use it, the more atrophy you'll experience, and the worse your symptoms will become. The trick is to find the balance of using it without over doing it, and to build up as much endurance as possible. One of the "easiest" ways to rehab will be in a warm pool.

Blocks can be used for diagnostic purposes, but they can also help decrease pain for days or weeks at a time, so that you to rehab. There are other options as well, but they are not a bad way to start, IMO.

Initially podiatrist found a huge cyst in my cuboid bone and lots of arthritis, tries a tarsometatarsal joint fusion, after a year and a half of pain after that surgery another podiatrist went in and did revision and removed hardware thinking I was having a reaction to the hardware, along with I had broken 2 of the three titanium plates...

After this second surgery in December the pain was just amplified and is worse than it was.

But yes the pain just gets worse the more I walk... Drive etc... By end of day just Aghhhhh...

Is that enough background? I can go into more detail if I need... Lol

Second surgery they put in a Pyrosphere... The last ortho I talked to wants to take it out.... Another surgery... Or not...