Shortly after I developed RSD, I began to look for a different line of work. I was an automobile/heavy truck/construction equipment mechanic. There is no way I could do that, now. With some training, I am now in fleet management and am the system administrator for the information system tracking all for vehicle-related data for a large fleet. Almost 100% of my day is behind a desk, working on a computer.

As my RSD progressed, I kept moving to higher doses of more potent drugs. People gape in wonder when they see or hear what I am taking. Because they seems to go directly to the pain, I really don't get the "doped up" side effects -- very much. I will get sleep attacks from my Rheumatiod Arthritis treatments, but for pain am taking oxycodone, tramadol, and endocet with very little side effect. I have made sure my boss and close co-workers are aware of all of this, just in case...

I know you would rather not have the dx of RSD/CRPS be accurate. I hope so, too, for your sake. Trust your doctors, and go for a second or third opinion if you can.

Good luck.

Mike

I am glad you found this site, I am new here too and I love it! Everyone is so helpful and kind. Sorry to hear about your problems though. Have you started a desensitization program with ot? That helped with some of my numbness and hypersensitivity. Also I have had 6 nerve blocks and they helped at first but then only helped for a couple hours. It is important if you get one to go to pt as soon as possible after (especially for workers comp) to get the most out of the injection and to improve your strength. I hadn't heard about the injections making it spread but mine did to the other arm, the doctors still don't believe it but I know that is what it is. Hope this finds you feeling better.
Jennelle

Hello Jennelle, I am glad I have found this site also , Alot of good info in here as well as some very good people.

I have started a desense program with my Phsycial therapist , They use a old hard wash cloth which I am not sure it is helping any .It is very hard to keep going to therapy and having them do this to me , Going on 2 months of that now.

I go for the nerve blocks Tuesday and was wondering did you get any side effects from them ? Was it painful? Thanks telling me your experiences it does help alot to understand and to see what I may be in for.

Hello Dontouchit!
Welcome, but am sorry you're here.
I'm kind of new myself.

I've had this wonderful thing for 26 years, along with a couple of other goodies.
But, I'm alive.

I was taught early on, (well, it took 7 years for a diagnoses, agony).
Yes, it can go whole body, mine has.
But, you'll learn as you go, and getting a good mental attitude is imperative.
(You're not going to let this stop you, are you?)

TALK to your doctors. Take notes, carry a small notebook, and especially keep it on your nightstand, for those end of day notes. If you have a good PIM, or calander on your computer, whatever software you can use as a journal, will do good.

You may need a psychiatrist, pain management, someone to help you with your attitude, because we all get depressed. This is not a lifelong thing, but, you may need to check in occasionally.
And, of course the old saying "Use it Or Lose it".
Use that arm, as much as you can. Talk to your PT about it. Ask questions, good questions, the kind that bring more questions. You don't want to hurt it worse, because of the surgery, but some folks can "baby" the hurt too much, then the pain wins.

We call this the "Triangle of rsd care"
Doc = meds.
psych doc = your attitude
Exercise =keep moving.


You've found a great resource here, and lots of great folks!

PM me if you wish.

Ask questions.

Take Good Care!
and, Keep the Faith!

Pete
ASB

Hi Donttouchit,
I've been writing you and welcoming you for over an hour and I hit a bad button. I'm too tired now to start over but will repeat whatI wrote. Welcome and read lots and be careful and and make informed decisions. your friend, loretta

Bass did your injury come from work ? Did Work Comp help pay for your training ? Tommorow I am going back to the Pain Doc to get different meds , Id like to try something different then Norcos for the pain(Stronger) . I never really took pain meds for more then a day or 2 so I am not sure if any or all of them knock you out or if there are some that dont . I know people react to meds different so I been reading up so I can kinda talk to the doc about them. I am glad that you been able to go back to work I sure hope that is in my near future I am bored beyond belief since I been off since Feb 2008.
Thanks I look forward to talking again.

I am one of those people that developed RSD with no injury that I can recall. The only precipitating thing is that we had a lot of rain and almost everybody's basement got flooded - including mine. Everything got soaked, so I needed to make several hundred trips up and down the stairs, toting all the ruined items out for trash collection.

About a week later, my leg swelled to twice its normal size and turned the prettiest (ugliest) shade of purple. Of course, it was also super-sensitive to touch. Because there was no injury to speak of, it made diagnosis much more difficult. All of the doctors were looking at water-borne illnesses, or maybe malaria (in Wisconsin?)

So no, there is no Worker’s Comp, which could be either good or bad, depending on your WC carrier. I have been lucky that my regular insurance has paid for much of the treatment and medications – so far.

Don’t be surprised if it takes some trial-and-error to find the right combination of drugs that will work best for you. That is very common.

Take care,

Mike

Hello Loretta, I look forward to hearing from you !!

Just a little update on my RSD, My Pain doc says today she cant do the nerve block tommorrow because my Heart Doc wont take me off the asprin I take. Since the blocks would be every other week Id be off the asprin for too long!!! Ugghhhh

Pain Doc called and said there is one option that might work , Id have to have the blocks done where my Heart doc s hospital is and be done bye there pain docs, Plus Id have to be hospitalized for 2 days each block. Now my Work comp has been pretty good to me however I dont see them paying for this !!!! Big Problems on the horizon I think.

Also this past friday Pain doc put me on Fentanyl patches Which I dont know much about but seems very strong , Ill let ya guys know how it goes since there maybe others in here sometime in future that may run into same problem I am going to have.