I was diagnosed with CRPS/RSD Type 1 on Thursday, I have been placed in the moderate to severe category. They are still unsure as to what caused it, possibly an injury to my neck.

I have been paralysed from the wrist down on my left arm for six months, but the pain, discolouration and sensitivity spreads are far as my elbow. During flares I am not even able to tolerate long sleeves.

I am also paralysed from the right ankle down, although the symptoms are not as severe as in my arm. I have been unable to wear proper shoes for over two months ( the only thing I am desensitised to is sheepskin) so its basically sheepskin slippers all the time. I also sleep on sheepskin at night. My toes are curled right over and my ankle turned in towards my body. I do have some movement in my ankle now though and can take some small unassisted steps. Pain and sensitivity wise things are no way better but this small amount of movement has been a great achievement.

I have tried a lot of medication. I am currently on Amitriptyline, Topamax, Naproxen, Omeprazole and paracetamol but this is in no way controlling my pain. I have tried Gabapentin, Pregabalin and Nortriptyline, none which have worked for me and I have not been able to tolerate any stronger painkillers due to sider effects (not even codeine).

I have a hand therapist who I see every week ( I am STILL waiting to see someone about my foot) but because my pain is so out of control some weeks I am in too much pain to do anything functional, so I am just sat with my arm in a bucket of cold water (I do better in this) will he does desensitisation, so progress is really slow. I am hoping to return to university next month, and would have liked to have made more progress than I have done.

My pain consultant who diagnosed me on Thursday as offered me lidocaine or ketamine infusions as the next step. I am a little nervous about this as I am so prone to side effects to medication. I also (as far as I know) have to have it done in day care, and I live a long way from the hospital, there is no where close to park to it (its right in the middle of the city) so I will have to get the train home after being pumped with the stuff for 3 hours. Basically I was just wondering what other peoples experiences are with these infusions as often I have found the side effects have far outweighed the benefits (if there was any) of the medication in the first place. If this is likely to make me feel really horrible I am tempted to ask what other options might be available to try first and maybe consider this as a later option?

Thanks xx