[tiggerz]

Hey everyone!
I so sorry that I have not posted in quite some time. I have been working and working more! I just got done doing some traveling for work. I went to Costa Rica, then Canada (a week each). Boy the TSA agents are dorks when it comes to SCS's! They are so clueless!

Anyway, I have a few questions....maybe someone can help, give me their opinion, tell me to hush, whatever

Last Tuesday, the 16th of October, I was T-Boned, in my truck. I had a Silverado (had is the key word, it was totalled). Anyway, I was hit in the drivers door, taken away by ambulance, etc. I was going through an intersection, and a guy blew a red light, doing 50mph.

I have been having left should pain (I expected it, since my drivers door was pushed in on me about 8 inches). Well, I just went to my first physical theropy appointment and they took some more x-rays and stuff and discovered that my should was dislocated in the accident and somehow the seat belt threw it back in, but NOT ALL THE WAY!?!?!?

Now, given I have beat my RSD back in to remission for the past 2 or so years, but I am scared that it is coming back on my left side now, cause of this accdident.

My questions are:

They want me to continue P/T to manipulate the shoulder in to place and they KNOW about my RSD and know what it is, and they say they plan to be careful. Should I worry that it will come back full force in my upper body again?

I see my med-tronics rep tomorrow (finally) because my SCS is on full blast when I turn it on now, and my remote says it is all the way down. Should I worry about something getting messed up with P/T with my SCS?

And last but not least.... lol...... They have put me on Oxycodone and muscle relaxers...... I DO NOT want to take them as I have been drugs free for many years cause this SCS has been working. Do you think it is ok to take them while I am "recovering".

I just don't want to mess up and have this RSD come back full force again.

I am just soooooooo worried and don't know who to ask for advise about this car accident and stuff. This is my first one

Thanks for any input

[Sandel]

Hi Shanin..
I am glad to hear you have been doing so well.. And so sory about the accident.. I would let yr pain doc know so they can prepare for an upper block if it becomes nessary.. They can hopefully quell the pain before it gets worse.. aw I am so sory this happened to ya.. and all that traveling is so kool Costa Rica is my dream place to go next.. I live in Canada and the winters can be brutal here.

I have no experience with the SCS I am afraid.. but have experienced RSD flare up in an injured area when I had my angiogram.. my advice is to use it as you normaly do... don't baby it of cottle it.. use it as normaly as possible and make sure the physio does not raise your pain levels too much..

Good luck hon I will be sendin healing thoughts your way and soft healing hugz too real soft,
Sandra

[Desi]

Hi Shanin!
Gosh, I am so sorry to hear about your accident!! I wouldn't worry so much about the RSD coming back. If that was my shoulder, a huge yes on the pt. you don't want to get "frozen shoulder" or any stiffness, you won't be able to use it. I had my shoulder out of wack and yes, it was painful, but along with the pain medication and Neurontin the PT helped a lot! Now, for your next question about you SCS I would ask the doctor who implanted your device(SCS) and see what he says about you having PT with this.I see nothing wrong with you taking your pain meds as prescribed. why are you so afraid of taking them? If your SCS is doing it's job and you feel no pain at all, then I would not take them. I wish you all the best, Shanin(What a pretty name!) and my thoughts and prayers are with you! I thank God that your alright!! ~Love, Desi

[tayla4me]

Hi Shanin,


I am not sure whether it applies over there but I would definitely put in a report to your Traffic/Motor Vehicle accident company. Do the police have a report you can call on?
This is just in case you have any injuries as a result of what happened that are over and above your RSD problems. This should make them responsible for any medical costs incurred by you--especially physio if it is needed as it is often long and drawn out and expensive.

Wishing you luck
Tayla

[wakegirl]

sorry to hear about your accident
i will try to answer your questions the best i can
first i have a question when you got your scs did your doctor get you a state card for you. i got one for co and i dont have any problems with tsa people...except for little airports where they seem to send the most clueless security people (they dont seem to be able to read ). if you dont have the state issued card you might want to ask your doc.
i had lower extremity rsd that went into remission for for about 3 years and then i dislocated my shoulder. my rsd didnt jump to my shoulder until after i had surgery and was in a sling. about a week after my surgery my arm started showing symptoms. we finally started looking at my nerves into my arm and discovered that in the same accident i had dislocated my ulnar nerve and it was sitting outside my elbow joint...that was what messed with my nerves and woke up the sleeping giant.
all people are different but my dislocation didnt cause problems and i also had a tramatic dislocation and an incomplete relocation.
i am also having issues with my scs mine is 2+ years old and my issues are 3 months old so they are unable to get the read out off the battery so i am going to have to have it replaced...i wish i had been smart like you are being and get it looked at asap.
the pt it is really important to rehab the muscles that have been ripped up with the dislocation...if you dont a frozen shoulder is a serious concern and the stuff they have to do to return motion will more likely result in a return of the rsd than going to a pt who is aware of your pre existing condition and is treating you accordingly. my pt following the accident was good and i didnt have an rsd flare. every person is different but i would say it is probably be a good idea to at least give pt a shot.
about the meds if your question is whether taking pain meds for an acute injure will cause problems with your rsd i dont believe so. if your concern is that if you start taking narcs and will have a hard time getting off of them when the current injury resolves that will probably have more to do with if following the resolution of the acute injury you need to continue taking meds for an rsd flare...to which i would probably say one bridge at a time.
congrats on the two years of remission and i hope the accident is just a minor bump and things return to normal. it is awsome that your scs was covering all of your rsd stuff...i have 2 and i havent been able to accomplish that feet.
p.s. if there was that much damage in your silverado you are definetly glad you were in such a big machine

[dianelori]

Ouch!! Sorry to hear about your accident!!!

I too am off pain meds and have been for about 2 years. I had an accident in January....a roll-over and my Taurus literally saved my life!!

I too am afraid that the RSD may have gone up my leg into my knee. I've already had surgery on it an now my doc says there really isn't any reason for the pain except for RSD. Great!!

My best advice.....get a lawyer!!!! I had a good one and she managed all my bills, even my mortgage company which was processing forclosure against me. I saved my house, she's still taking care of the bills, and in the meantime, I was awarded a 6-figure settlement.

Good luck and let us know how things turn out......especially with your SCS.
Dianelori

[tiggerz]

Well, first, ALL my medical bills are covered by his insurance...thank god!
I got my SCS checked out this morning by MedTronics and it was a little screwy but after some reprogramming, it is now working great again! (Yeah!!)

Oh, my truck was finally totalled last night and I got a brand new truck today

It looks like things are working out, except for the shoulder issue. But, the good news is that MedTronics gave the go ahead to work on my shoulder with HEAT only and to please stay away from my neck

I greatly appreciate all the responses and suggestions....you guys are the best!!!