A LOT of people with RSD have trouble sleeping.....I'm not totally clear whether it is the stimulation of the nervous system, the pain (even unaware as you move the affected limb in your sleep or the covers touch it), or the changes in the brain......and sleep is paradoxically CRITICAL for those with RSD......it is a time when the body shuts back and rests and heals. I consider proper sleep to be paramount to my well-being.

I take a med that is not usually prescribed for sleep, but works for me. I, too, have a problem waking up after just enough sleep to rejuvenate me (maybe two hours) and then cannot get back to sleep. Pain meds, for some reason, cause me NOT to sleep well.....part of why I hate taking them. Perhaps you could ask your doc for Ambien ER (the ER is extended release......to KEEP you asleep).

Regarding docs that think pain meds (when genuinely needed) are "addictive".......studies have been shown that demonstrate the exact opposite. People that are in severe pain are not going to abuse drugs to get "high"....they just want relief from the pain. Two months is not long enough to become addicted to them anyway, as long as you are taking the prescribed amount.

My PT point blank told me that I needed to take whatever pain meds I needed to take in order to do the PT properly. The PT is critical in getting the affected limb moving, regaining mobility, and proper body mechanics. A limb not being used is a limb that will stiffen up, retract, spasm, and become even more painful and useless. Are you seeing a Pain Specialist??? They are usually more aware of the degree of pain that people with RSD suffer from (moderate to severe......it is the most painful of ALL chronic pain syndromes) and are better suited to prescribe the appropriate meds. Pain control is critical in the overall outcome of your prognosis.

"DRUG THERAPIES

- DRUG THERAPIES ARE NOT A CURE BUT THEY CAN OPTIMIZE PAIN CONTROL AND PROVIDE THE RELIEF NECESSARY TO REGAIN FUNCTION AND ALLOW THE PATIENT TO PARTICIPATE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY.

FOR CHRONIC PAIN PATIENTS, DRUG THERAPIES ALLOW PATIENTS TO REGAIN A BALANCE IN THEIR LIVES AND RESUME MANY ACTIVITIES THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY STOPPED. HERE WE WILL SIMPLY GIVE THE BASIC MEDICATION TYPES, AN EXAMPLE, AND WHAT THEY ARE FOR.

ANALGESICS:

- OPIATE AGONISTS – THESE MEDICATIONS TRY AND REDUCE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM ACTIVITY AND THEREBY REDUCE PAIN. OPIATE AGONISTS ACT ON OPIOD RECEPTORS TO INITIATE ANALGESIA, SEDATION, AND EUPHORIA. COMMONLY USED OPIATE AGONISTS ARE MS CONTIN, MORPHINE, OXYCONTIN, OPANA, & HYDROCODONE.

- OPIATE ANTAGONISTS - OPIATE ANTAGONISTS BLOCK AND REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF OPIOID AGONISTS BY COMPETITIVELY ADHERING TO OPIOID RECEPTORS. AN EXAMPLE OF AN OPIATE ANTAGONIST IS NALTREXONE.

NARCOTICS – USED TO MASK PAIN BY BLOCKING PAIN RECEPTORS FROM SENDING PAIN MESSAGES TO THE BRAIN. NARCOTICS ARE ALSO KNOWN AS OPIOIDS. THESE ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE TYPES; CODEINE-BASED MEDICATIONS, THE OXYCODONE BRANCH (OXYCONTIN CR and IR, PERCOCET, PERCODAN, for example), AND THE HYDROCODONE BRANCH OF OPIODS (MS CONTIN, VICODIN, LORTAB, LORCET, METHADONE, AND KADIAN, for example).

Most Drs will prescribe the ER (extended release) or CR (controlled release) versions of these narcotics for a more evenly distributed release of medicine during the day.

So what is the difference then between the OXYCODONE Branch and the HYDROCODONE Branch If you search the Internet here is what most of the double-blind studies show: OXYCODONE and HYDROCODONE are similar in analgesic effect, but OXYCODONE is generally as effective at 66% of the dosage of HYDROCODONE. Individual medications may vary and each patient will vary slightly as well but it gives you an overall idea.

ALSO INCLUDED IN THE NARCOTICS FAMILY IS FENTANYL, EITHER IN THE MORE COMMON PATCH OR THE LESS COMMON LOLLIPOP FORM, ACTIQ."

http://www.rsdhope.org/Showpage.asp?...5&PGCT_ID=3822

Search all over the home page of this site. I have found it very useful. Another one to review:

http://www.rsdconsultants.com/crps_abstract.htm

Sorry if any of these are repeats. I am so tired tonight I cannot think straight. I am very concerned about you, and want you to get proper treatment. I am finding that we must educate OURSELVES as much as possible about this disease because WE are our own best advocate.

Doctors really do not know much about this rare disorder. Many have never heard of it. Most have never actually treated it. I read somewhere that an "expert" in RSD (PT in particular) could be considered someone that had successfully treated FIVE RSD patients in their career. Think about that......only 5 in their whole career!!

Do not count on ANYONE treating you to know about or understand all of the intricacies of this disease. I carry a huge 3 ring binder filled with articles, my medical records, pictures, a calendar of symptoms, etc....to all of my doctor appointments. I keep brochures about RSD in there to hand out to nurses that have never heard of it. I spread awareness one person at a time.

Keep asking questions!! We're all in this together!! Take care!!!

Oh, and I promised the link about preventing RSD spread in future surgeries:


http://anesthesia.stanford.edu/pain/...%20Surgery.pdf

Bravery? My dear friend.....Nope. :) LOL It's called...you just get- used- to- it and- OMG -you've- changed- the- way- you- do- things- without- even- realizing- you've -done- it-and-then-cry-like-a-baby-when-your-whole-body-hurts-like-hades. *takes a breath* LOLOLOLOL Like going downstairs on your butt and going up them on all fours just to make absolutely sure you don't put a funny ha ha look I feel UP the stairs move. Which is funny because you don't really hurt yourself, unlike falling DOWN the stairs which could involve funny crunching sounds as bones start sounding like Rice Krispies. :eek: *laughing yet?*

My sincere hope for many is that it will NOT spread at all and they won't have the "joy" of the full body experience. Even though no one can imagine it, as with other things, you find out you deal with it just fine and it really isn't that big of a deal, comparatively speaking. To what, I don't know, but it sounds good. :D LOL

Lonehunter(love the name), I'm not sure what else to add because she*points to Mom* has said everything I would say! :p I'll add though....NO ICE EVER!!!!!!! I know I wouldn't have kept icing my stupid broken(according to the er just "badly bruised"hahahaha) knee umpteen times a day if I had known early enough. I think it's what helped keep my pain level in the stratosphere and maybe helped it spread. (I swear I could hear it going weeeeeeeee in there).

Hugs,

Karen

Hi MominPainRSD, Karen, and Lonehunter 21,

Wow, thank you so very much for all the research and helpful information. I'm going to get RSD folders to pass out too. Already have several.

Lonehunter 21-I had RSD following surgery and didn't know it. Got frozen shoulder and had pt to get motion back-100 treatments, yes, and 100 massage treatments just before the pt, which I paid for. Took meds before pt because of the pain..Shoulder surgery was recommended, but I refused. So glad now as it was 4 years before I was diagnosed RSD, which is now full body-12 years. Yes, it's not good, but I'm so grateful for what I can do, and I keep mobile thru dailey exercise and stretching, etc. Have an great Doc. and husband, daughter and son in law and of course all YOU GOOD FOLKS. Thanks for always being a friend. Take care, Loretta

Hey!!! You go down the stairs on your butt and up on all fours, too??? I have rug burn in places I haven't experienced since I was in my twenties (uh....we won' t go there!!). Problem is you can see our whole staircase from the huge window in the foyer and we leave the light on now so I can actually SEE the stairs. It's a cheap thrill for the neighbors who have now been able to cancel the Comedy channel on cable!!:blush:

And yeah.....how could I possibly have forgotten to mention "NO ICE"??? Glad you filled in that blank for me!! You've got my back, girlfriend!!!:highfive:

I live in a townhouse complete with private courtyard fence and we're at the back so our windows and such don't face anything but the bushes. :D If the neighbors are amused then well, add a little wiggle to your "step" for them! ;) ROFL I was actually kind of embarrassed about the way I had to navigate stairs at first, especially when my friend saw that "move" for the first time. She didn't laugh at all until I burst out laughing at myself! I know the way it looks and I don't give a rat's patootey! If it works, then go with it! :D

I've always got your back! :hug:

Hugs,

Karen