Thank you for your replies. I will definately look into the ECT as well.

She had been seeing a psychiatrist and a therapist while she was being treated at her previous pain specialist. Oddly enough they both thought that she was suffering with normal amounts of depression given her condition if not better than expected. She has had a great attitude towards everything, even on her bad days. When I talk to her about what she tried to do, she says that it is literally the pain that drove her to it, that it is so intense on her really bad days that she can't handle it. On her normal days she says she can stick it out. I can empathize with her, but I truly can not imagine that amount of pain.


And we are in Scottsdale Arizona. When I was calling around to find her a new doc, 19 of the 20 of them said that they would not see her because of the Methadone (number 20 we get to see mid August). I guess some idiot doctor told one of his patients to take like a 700mg dose and it killed him, now everyone who benefited from it that is not a heroin addict is getting punished for it. One doctor that we had a consultation with went as far as to tell us that it is too bad she doesn't have cancer, because then there would be an end in sight and people would give you enough medication to make you comfortable.

BCBS has approved the SCS implant trial and they cover 80% of the cost, so that is good. I just can't get any of the doctors to give us a ball park figure.

I have tried to get her to get on these forums, so she has someone else to talk to other than me, but her pain is in here whole upper left quadrant and it takes everything she has just to type a few words, so she isn't on her computer much.

for both of you.

there is voice software like Dragon that would help her use the computer. i'll find some of the posts about from members that use it.


here is one thread of many:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ghlight=Dragon

use the search feature onthe toolbar if this is something she is interested. there were even threads about some of the computers now already have some type of software.

Hi Allygator, Welcome to this wonderful group of RSD. Wonderful group of all backgrounds that ended up with this monster. I, too, live in Scottsdale. There is a support group that meets once a month at St Joseph Hospital, Next to Barrows Neuro. Hospital.I have had RSD for about 12 years. It is now genealized, or full body. I have a Pschiatrist, with degree in Neurology, and Pharmacology. I was in terrible shape until he put me on other meds that work on nerve pain......Lyrica, an anti seizure med is good for nerve pain and fibromyalgia, which sometimes goes along with rsd. Lorazapam is an anti-anxiety med. when my anxiety is down, so is my pain level. How is your wife's blood pressure? Mine was fine until RSD. Now it is high with drops to low. I'm on two different bp meds to keep it somewhwere in the middle. Since RSD affects the Limbic part of brain, thus depression, I'm on two different depressions meds. I take Vicodin and sleeping med. I don't think he is taking new patiets. He teaches every week on the west coast and Utah.
He has been wonderful. If you are interested in support group, let me know and I'll get back to you. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I'm thinking of applying for SSI as
I haven't been able to work in our business 3-4 years since I passed out one morning when I got up and pressure was 60/40 paramedic couldn't get pulse, I was out over an hour before I woke up and got my husbands attention. It was scary, 4 days in hospital. I've been thru a lot of physical therapy, which got most of my left arm in use, then a couple of years later my left hand didn't fair so well. It's stuck in like a claw position.
Swimming is the best think for the whole body.Keep moving, I hope you have a pool.
It's so important to keep the joints moving. I hope you find a Dr. The Support group is very helpful. They don't meet in the summer, but should soon start up again. loretta