Hi all. I am a 50-year old female who has been dealing with CRPS II in my left arm since I had ulnar nerve surgery (moved the nerve) one year ago. This surgery resulted in a second compression on the nerve and the beginning of RSD (CRPS II). I had a second surgery six months ago to relieve the second compression.

I have been doing months of OT, PT, meds, etc. but have just learned I need to have a surgery on my right ring finger. It was discovered last week during a routine x-ray that I have a bone tumor in my finger. It was found by accident because the doctor wanted to see if I had bone loss in my left had so he needed to compare. Then he stood there in shock looking at the tumor on my right hand. He said the bone is thinner than an egg shell and that surgery is needed ASAP. I have consulted with a second hand surgeon and he said the same thing.

I am so scared because I don't want this miserable condition to spread. What can I do to help myself? I am so scared.

I am so sorry that you are going through so much. A person does panic when they have to have surgery with RSD.

My suggestion would be to ask for a SGB before surgery. They do it right before you go into the operating room. You are asleep by the time they get ready to do them.

I just had surgery on my right middle finger in Sept. to release a nerve and the Dr. did a block. Most Drs. nowadays seem to know to do blocks before you have surgery with RSD but it don't hurt to ask.

I had ulner nerve surgery in 2004. Sometimes I am wrong with the years but I believe it was then. Since RSD I have had about 12 surgeries. I am getting ready to have another one in Jan. Just about the time you think you have things going good then something else goes on. I usually wait until I can't wait no longer to get my surgeries. This pelvic problem I was diagnosed with about 2 years ago but have had it about 5 so I am ready to get things done. I will ask for a block for it too.

I strongly suggest you ask for a block. As I said, most Drs. nowadays do them but be sure to mention it to your surgeon and he can make arrangments with the Anesteologist ahead of time.

Good luck and I do hope that this next surgery does what you need it to do.

Ada

Hi there,
I am so sorry about everything that you are going through ((hugs))
Please talk to the hand surgen about your RSD and see what he recommends.
I wish I could help you further
Take care
Alison

is the tumor in your finger malignant {bad} or benign {ok}?
Or is it a problem just being there?
Is the bone just thin at the tumor area or in all of your fingers/hand?

sheesh sorry I'm so full of questions...

sorry to hear you have been struggling...crps often feels like you are walking through quicksand...the more you progress you feel like you are making the deeper you find yourself. i too had an ulnar nerve transposition a few years ago and my crps flooded the area. on a positive i had a revision of a scs on dec 12th and while the surgery itself is not much fun i am happy to report my crps didn't flair as a result. i know the idea of surgery with a disease with such a propensity for spread is scary but when it is the only option available a well educated surgeon is the best defense. i agree with the suggestion to ask the anesthesiologist to do a sgb prior to surgery. crps spread especially in individuals who have been dealing with it for some time is most often the result of some form of trauma, the greater the trauma the more likely a problem will result. the best way to avoid a bad result is to make the area as calm as possible and a block prior to the procedure should help.
i am so sorry you are experiencing so many road blocks...good luck

Thank you for the replies. I have been so nervous about this (and RSD in general). I do not know if the tumor is malignant or not. It is called an enchondroma and they typically are not cancerous when found in the fingers or toes. However, they usually are found by the time the person is in their 20s or 30s. Studies show the longer you have the tumor the chances of it being cancerous increase just a bit. I was told the tumor would have to be removed and then carefully examined for cancer, as it cannot be determined by a simple biopsy.

After the tumor is removed the first surgeon I consulted wants to fill in the area with bone from my wrist. The second surgeon would prefer to use bone from a cadaver as it would be less invasive but increases the risk of rejection. I do not know which way to go with this. I may seek a third opinion from a hand surgeon in the next state just to help me decide.

I know I will have to do something soon because both doctors said to have the finger break on its own is the worst scenario for RSD because that would most likely increase the chance of a spread. Plus my finger does hurt so that is an indication the bone is very thin (confirmed by the x-ray).

I had not thought of a stellate ganglion block. Would that block be done to the arm needing surgery or to the arm that already has RSD? I have not had one. I was scheduled several times but I chickened out due to my miserable luck with medical procedures.

I have been in denial about this disease for months. Just asking for help on this forum has helped me start to face this problem. Wakegirl, you are so right when you say it is always something. I would not ever think twice about this surgery before RSD; now I just get paralyzed with fear trying to make a decision. In fact this afternoon I backed out of the EMG test. I was just too afraid of a spread. I am diabetic but have not had a blood draw in over one year because I don't know if it is okay. I am so confused about choosing what is the proper medical treatment for this disease. Thank you for listening...