Hi maygin,

You have tried very hard to maintain a positive outlook.

I am glad the "global pain" is improved for you. Every bit of relief helps!
I am sorry you have not seen more gains from infusions, at least not yet.
I am sorry you have not seen the gains you had expected, overall.
This is a very challenging condition.

In addition to trying to cope with the severe effects of CRPS, which are very complicated and very trying, we are often given some misleading information, even from doctors who should know what they are talking about.

You have mentioned limited mobility. Please continue working on your mobility, no matter what you are told. I was told, all last year, the lack of mobility in my ankles, feet and toes was "permanent" and could not be reversed. At that time, I could not move my ankles or any of my toes. I had several neurologists do exams on these areas and all were sure I had lost the ability to move my ankles and my toes forever. An ortho doctor agreed with the neurologists. Very upsetting, as I had close to zero ROM in my ankles and could not voluntarily move my ankles or any toes.

I have refused to agree re: Permanency. I'd just kept an open mind and did not give up. While the doctors may have been correct in their assessment, I thought it best that I keep trying anyway, at least until I decided to give up, too.

I have kept working on them anyway, trying different approaches. I have recently found I have a lot more ROM in my ankles and toes and I can now move them. This has come about through massage frequent massage (4-6 times a day).

Depression is certainly understandable and is one of the major obstacles with chronic pain. Many factors play into depression. Some of the depression is "grief" which we might find helpful to process. Some of it can be side-effects from meds. Some of it is a response to the chronic pain, etc.
Depression is multi-faceted. It can build to an overwhelming level, as it tends to "snowball." Understandably so.

It can be helpful to have a well-informed counselor, therapist -- trained in the effects of chronic pain -- help us to identify the contributing sources/components of depression, so we can make some changes where we can and we can work on acceptance where we must do so, etc.
"Supportive therapy" can also be helpful when we are feeling "lost" as to what to do next, if anything, and when we are feeling generally overwhelmed by all of the complications.

Wow. The move. Surely takes a toll.

Thanks for the update.
Keep reaching out re: depression. It can become very complicated and can feel so very overwhelming. We can use some help, sometimes, getting back on top of it enough to feel like we can cope effectively.

I hope you find more relief with each passing day.

With Love and Concern,
DejaVu

I wanted to jump in and just give you some motivation. Moving is so hard. In fact it ranks up there as one of the most stressful things a human can do, so be patient with your body. I am hoping that the pain is decreasing little by little.

I also have rebound pain with the ketamine, meaning my pain increases after an infusion and then goes back down. There is a helpful fb group called SCS, Ketamine, Nerve blocks. That community of people are helpful.

I too had more depression when I did ketamine and I got on an antidepressant. I have been anti-anti-depressant for years but honestly it has helped so much! And I have noticed my mood is better and I can do more activities. (and now y mood doesn't stress me out).

I too am in a bad flare from a toenail removal and am having Sympathetic nerve blocks- a series of 5 to calm the pain. I've had one and it has worked okay so far... maybe that is a option?

I hope you feel better and the pain starts to subside! hang in there, it gets better

Thank you for your kind words. I was super lucky in that most of my things had already been moved back home 3 months prior, so it was a smaller move and a bit less stressful, though it's always stressful to move across the country. I have been able to rest some, but the apartment (which is in my mom's house) needs work and I end up having to help some with that, plus unpacking. Also, emotions are running high as I process having to move back in with my mom due to disability. I have good nights and bad. It's hard to shut my brain off. I need to get a car and a different bed, but money is tight and I have no idea what my future holds. So it can be a bit much. Which I assume is making all of this worse. I really wish the ketamine had helped. It would have made going through all this so much easier. But I'm making it through.