Originally Posted by NurseKris

No problem. That is one of the more difficult thing about communication over the internet. I just wasn't sure if I worded it wrong. You think with all the technology we would have a clearer way of expressing ourselves.

Originally Posted by scubaforsythe

Went to my first appointment for pain management today, was a nervous wreck. I spent 2 days preparing a 3 page document explaining my medical history, what they think caused the CRPS, what meds I have been on since the dog attack, and what I'm currently taking. Listed what seems to make the pain worse, and it affects me, and what I do to try and cope with the pain. I thought the doctor would appreciate this, and really took my time doing it, so I would not forget anything important. They wanted nothing to do with it....

When the nurse asked me what kind of pain do I feel, I looked at her stupidly, and said I'm not sure what you mean. She said, "Is it stabbing, aching, burning, radiating..." I told her all the above. I tried to explain that it changes depending on time of day and what I have done or what I am doing. She said that is too many words that I need to pick two, because the doctor would get mad if she put in too many words. The nurse continued with questions, interrupting my answers, allowing me only to speak a few words at a time, so I do not think they have accurate information. I'm so out of it most of the time, I cannot think quickly enough for the speed she wanted me to go at.

The doctor came in and was very rude and interruptive, like I was wasting his time. He was not interested in hearing about what my symptoms were or what was bothering me, and basically told me because I have trouble raising my arm above my head, (I explained to him that I was hurting pretty bad today and did not think I could raise it and that it was not because it wouldn't raise, it hurt too much to raise it) he said it is not RSD, that because I do not have ROM, it is not RSD. I have been told by other doctors that lack of range of motion is a symptom of RSD, not a way to exclude it?? Thoughts???

I explained that because I had a stroke at age 7, my right side compensates for the left, and I have to reach around in awkward positions to do normal things like pulling my pants up, washing, putting on deodorant... and when doing these awkward movements it hurts my arm more, and its like building blocks that build up throughout the day. Depending on how many blocks build up, decides how bad the pain is at night. He asked me what the pain was like at night. I told him it starts around 9:00-9:30 and feels like a pool of lava that flows down my arm into my hand. He asked me where does it start. I told him at the shoulder, then flows down the arm. He asked how it moves down my arm. I got really confused at this point, and felt like it was more of an inquisition rather than him trying to understand, but I then switched and said it feels like someone is pouring lighter fluid into my arm and setting a match to it, it flows through the entire arm. This seemed to make him angry. That's when he told me to lift my arms...

I had trouble putting my hands palm up, my left hand, because it is paralyzed, and tried to explain this, and he even interrupted me during this and said ah your wrist is frozen huh. I was like no its paralyzed from the stroke I told you about...

So at this point he decides it is not RSD/CRPS and that it is just that my shoulder is messed up. I tried to explain that I had manipulation done last week to alleviate the impingement, and my ortho says the shoulder is fine. I also tried to explain that workers comp had sent me to a separate doctor to see if I had RSD/CRPS or not, which he did, before they would approve adding it to my case, and I don't see how both doctors could be wrong??
I don't think he liked me saying that but by this point I was ready to blow.

He decided that my gabapentin 100mg 3 times a day was too weak, and he prescribed lyrica 75mg 2 times a day twice a day in 2 weeks, this would increase to 2 pills t. I tried to ask what the difference was, (they will both end up being 300mg a day) and all he told me was lyrica was newer, so it is better. I asked what the side effects are, they said about the same as gabapentin. AND he scheduled me for a stellate ganglion block.

He told me if that helps, then I have RSD/CRPS, if it doesn't, then I probably don't. Then in the next breath he said, it does not always work on everyone, so we will have to see....

I looked into this block and I have read that after 6 months or so a sympathetic block has less chance of working. I most likely have had this, which I do believe I have this, and have had this since the dog tried to pull my arm off a year ago, and the tears to my shoulder hid the symptoms and it wasn't until after the surgery that they were discovered and addressed.

Can I just quit? I want off this horrible ride!!!!