1) what year was everyone given a dx (age of patient)

2003, age 33

2) what was the original injury or instance that started the cycle

Impact injury to left knee

3) how long after you went to the doctor to ask about the symptoms did you actual get a dx, and by whom (pcp, pain doc, ortho, other)

I didn't ask about the symptoms really. I was on WC and when the first doc couldn't figure it out he packed me off to an Ortho like it was a threat. Was in the Ortho exam room for 3 minutes with him when he told me I had RSD. At that point it was just over a month since symptoms started and I didn't get any kind of "critical care" I should have due to WC not approving anything. All they did was try and deny and bully the doc into denying there was anything wrong with me and so was shipped to another doc, and another, etc.

could the people who were self diagnosed (you, a friend, a loved one, any one who doesnt have dr after their names please add an answer, how long you struggled without the help of a doctor (please try to come up with a "close" amount of time that passes in between the doctors dx and how long it took for you to feel like a effective person who just wants to live life and get the meds to allow that freedom easily.) And put the day the doctor actually said i know what it is conclusively.


non doctor dx
number of years it took tou to find a doctor that you are comfortable with
md dx

does that make sense.
i guess because pain management specifics is basically assessed on patients who are either already seeing a doc they are comortable with or they have an appt within a few days or a week at most

there are alot of surveys that talk about the injury (if one did occur)the early diagnosis, and what the patient done to help their doctors in their quest find the answer in the form of a dx

There's no such thing as self diagnosis unless you're a doctor.

I knew within a couple hours of the doctor suggesting it might be RSD that it was, indeed, RSD. I checked it out online and found the "alcohol on the affected area" test which was highly positive.

I believe docs don't like this diagnosis, they don't like the disease, and they don't like treating it. Not only are they able to provide relatively little help usually but it represents more than most conditions one of the things they don't like about their job; the loss of control of options in diagnosing and treating patients. Like all workers, doctors like to look back on their day and see the good they've done. This can be difficult with RSD patients and even the specialists can become jaded.

We end up going from doctor to doctor looking for relief and a little compassion (in the form of treatment).

If the procedures don't work then the best chance is to find the right combination of drugs that help. You will end up with a new life than what you had before.

got rsd july 5, 1996 from hip replacement surgery
i was 44 years old
DX by a rehab specialist April 1997, so 9 month later.
had been to ortho and neuro specialist before that and they did not DX it.

good thread, thanks, joan

Injured right wrist in a fall Jan 2002
Diagnosed Jan 2002 a week later by PCP (when I was 16)
Originally ER thought i'd broken my wrist. Went to see PCP a week later because of the pain and swelling and blackness and she already had a patient with RSD so recognised it straight away. Diagnosis confirmed by orthopaedics, rheumatologists, neurologists and the pain team.
Still not comfortable with my medical team as they are bloody useless.

Good idea for a thread

Frogga

1) 1996, age 35

2) Crush injury/brachial plexus stretch/tear

3) Discussed w/in 6 months

GOT A GOOD LAUGH ABOUT THE TEAM BEING BLOODY USELESS!!!! HA! THANKS ... JOAN

Had to have carpal tunnal surgery in Jan. (the 9th. of this year;2007)
Dx April 07- Ortho caught it.(Surgeon who did the carpal tunnal surgery)- went to 5 differnt dr.'s 2 specialists.. all confirmed it being RSD Blahhhhhhhhh..

DX given 2004 I was 51
Accident occured 2003
DX'd by orthopedic after seeing 6-8 other varying types of Doctors.
physical therapist sent me to the doctor who diagnosised me as she felt i should not be in pt. the physical therapist had experience with RSD. I had never heard of it.

1. July 2007 and September 2007

2. First injury Sprained Ankle. Second injury Fall and Knock getting out of bath

3. 4 months after injury for the first injury, and about 3 weeks after second injury.

4. Diagnosed both times by Pain Consultant / Specialist