Sophie, I really feel your emotional pain right now. I have a tendency to worry and stress out over the decisions that need to be made regarding treatments. Stress overload tends to worsen our pain. I try to deal with it using mindfulness exercises and by preparing in writing every question or comment I have to address with my doctor(s).


"SHould I talk to my PM doctor about the MN? I told him about it at our first meeting but he didn't see to concerned about it. Or should I wait and see how I respond to the sympathetic nerve block on Wednesday and the gabapentin? I will search the threads again about blocks but I did watch (forget his name-Dr chop raps video) and he said nerve blocks really don't help. I just have this nagging feeling that my left foot/mortons neuroma is coming into play in all of this or it could have been the cortisone shots. All I know is that it is creating a lot of painful burning"

I believe you should address all of these issues with your doctor. Whether you do that before or after your nerve block is up to you. If I am not mistaken, you had nerve blocks with your first encounter with CRPS and you eventually went into remission. Be prepared with a written list and listen closely to the doctor's responses. Leaving issues unspoken will only add to your stress.

Try to think positively. You went into remission before and you can do it again!

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Remember we are here for you and care.

Shay

THank you Shay ! I am trying to stay positive however my fear gets the worst of me! I know I went into remission once. I had basically forgotten what that whole experience felt like but wow it's pretty much the same thing with the exception thAt I could at least walk! I think that not being able to walk, stand for more than 5 mins or wear any kind of shoe has kind of sent me over the edge! I'm holding on and glad that I found this site!!!!
These kind of sites were not around when I first got RSD! Thank you again

Hi Sophie,

I would certainly bring up the MN but you may be accurate that your PM may not be too concerned about it. Mine wasn't especially interested in my pain contributors since he wouldn't really be treating them. He was more concerned about treating the pain and leaving the other kinds of treatment to other specialists. It is worth mentioning though as your doctor may have other ideas or info for you. Intuitively it seems that treating a pain contributor would make a difference but also remember that plenty of people have MN but don't have CRPS.

I hope the sympathetic block helps. If it doesn't then it may mean your pain isn't sympathetically maintained. The evidence on blocks is mixed. They aren't a sure bet but they do work for some people.

I agree with Shay on the mindfulness approach. It does help and reducing stress though challenging is possible. Remind yourself that you are going to be okay. I tended to catastrophize in the beginning which wasn't helpful and wasn't reflective of mine or the majority of outcomes.

Thank you again Littlepaw. I appreciate your input into all of this! Also, thank you again for the encouraging words. I know This is my 2nd go around with crps but i still am adjusting to finding out that it has returned!

Good luck with your appointment today. Keep hanging on and believing that things will improve. If you can, please keep us updated.

Shay

Thank you Shay
I will!!!! Thank you again for all your kind and supportive words

Well I got my first lumbar sympathetic nerve block this past Wednesday. I don't think I noticed much improvement with my pain. I have another one coming up this Wednesday for the right side.
If I don't notice any improvements with the 2nd block, I will have to decide if I should try another round just in the event that the blocks may work or just not get anymore blocks.

Hi Sophie,

Maybe your pain isn't sympathetically maintained. Your doctor may have some insight on this and what that indicates for trying any more of them. Did you have any response to the block at all? A sympathetic block will warm the limb even in a completely healthy person...

Littlepaw. I'm not sure if my limb was warm after the block. When this doctor treated me years ago, he would come to the recovery room and he would feel my knees and talk to me. On the day of my block, I noticed that he had a lot of patients scheduled for procedures and I didn't see him after the block.
I may have had a very slight decrease in pain in my left foot, however it only lasted a day or two. I did notice today that I tolerated shoes better today, however I have been rubbing DSMO cream on my feet every few hours.
Could my pain be sympathetically independent already?? Symptoms started mid September. As much as feet burn, I can feel pain coming from the neuromas too! (I see my PM in a 1.5 weeks, so I will bring this up as well.) Well it will be interesting to see how this next block goes. Thanks littlepaw