Neurontin is a life-saver for me. My dosage is quite high (though not the limit), and so I have pain patches to take care of the rest, but with the Neurontin the ice in my legs went away. And it was like ICE, like being frozen solid 24/7 both legs fully.

I would just do what the doctor ordered until you can see a pain management doctor.

Has that happened yet, in the mean time?

Hi Rigman,

If you have the financial ability to go ahead and get the neurontin (which is inexpensive in generic form) by all means do! We have one member who uses WC for some things and her private insurance for others. I don't know if this has any repercussions but neurontin generic is cheap enough to pay cash for.

Consider asking also about the oral steroids. They too are inexpensive. Perhaps your ortho would consider prescribing them. You could just call. If they are unsure about it you can send them this.

Ask The Expert: Steroids for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

Standard CRPS dose for oral prednisone that I've seen in literature is 3x daily for ten days. I personally found this helpful for calming things down when I was acute. CRPS is a neuroinflammatory process, steroids do treat that.

Meanwhile are you on Vitamin C? 500mg daily helps fight free radicals. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen may be more helpful than tylenol. Your ortho might also be able to do a local nerve block to see if that helps. They have the ability to do that in the office under ultrasound guidance.

Are you on a call list for cancellations at the pain doctor? Is there anyone else in town to get you started? 6 weeks seems way too long. Early CRPS is an urgent pain situation. Call back, talk with the practice manager or assistant and explain the situation. Have your ortho call. Send your records over and file early patient forms. whatever it takes. In my experience, extreme acute pain that was untreated bumped me up on work-in lists for busy doctors.

good luck. I'm sending healing vibes,

Regarding the ER. I went many times, but found it to be worthless for any sort of pain treatment. For full disclosure I was treated like a drug seeker.

On one of those visits, after a negative reaction to two antibiotics and an inability to walk due to agonizing pain, (I was yet to be diagnosed for CRPS) an incidental brain aneurysm was discovered. I was sent home with no pain medication, crutches and a follow up appointment to discuss brain surgery.

There's an opiod epidemic in this country, so it is somewhat understandable that the ER staff are reluctant to treat persistent pain. Call your PCP, he might give you enough tramadol to tide you over until your PM appointment.

Look up voltaren gel, DMSO and frankincense neuropathy oil.

I had heard such. But surely they can look at your diagnosis and say, well, this patient is a LEGIT chronic pain patient.

It's harder of course when you're not diagnosed. Hence why I went without any type of pain medication to speak of for almost 3 years. Then the doctor eased Tramadol into my medicines to take, which in my case only took the sharpness off of the pain - but at least it was *something* that helped ease the pain a little.

I was in bed 24/7 without pain medication. Now I stay in bed until 10 (bedrest, not necessarily sleep from 7 AM until 10 AM). And the rest of the day I am up. Thanks to the pain medication. I still need rest. You do if you can barely walk so... but after almost 3 years, that's what you get.

They don't let a dog suffer! Why should people? Even with this going on.

Great article about not getting help for pain in the ER. Politics in the ER: Five ways Doctors Decide You Are a Drug Seeker - Skeptability

13 Red Flags Your Pain Patient is a Drug Seeker | Physicians Practice

I'm so sorry you have rsd. I have had it for over six years now and find that Neurontin plus a strong pain killer which my PM dr prescribes for me has helped me manage the pain a little better. Neurontin aka Gabapentin does not help manage the pain all by itself at least for me. Everyone is different when it comes to what treatment is right for them with rsd. It take a good PM dr who is knowledgeable about rsd and some trial and error on what meds and procedures like PT and nerveblocks will help manage your rsd pain best. I try to educate myself as much as I can on rsd too. As for your insurance I am unable to give advice because I never had to deal with WC. I am sorry again for your pain and difficulty getting your meds and hope that you can find the right dr to help you get the meds that they prescribe for you. Sending prayers your way that you will find some relief soon. Hugs.

Yes Neurontin is amazing, first of all, but it doesn't get all my pain either. That is why I have pain patches on top of the Neurontin.

Hang in there!