None of the doctors in my area will do anything, no pumps because they believe i am to advanced and it wont work for me, they wont allow to to cocktail more than 3 painkillers at a time. They wont do the lidocaine iv, won't do any iv med period. I also have crohns and my crohns doc doesnt believe rsd is real so hes a hassle, i am not only fighting my rsd docs but also my gastro as well. I need a doctor that will at least take a step forward and try other things i have all ready jumped through there hoops of what they will do and all of it fails. And no HBO is not an option round here period. Also because of being on methadone,oxycontin and diaulaidid on hvery high does every drug i try to offer to them as an idea to next from this they shoot down as its less than what i am on. If anyone knows of a doctor in Pennsylvania near Lancaster at all please tell me. I swear the east side sucks for having rsd docs other than schwartzman which is a joke and dr. sherry is pediatric theres nothing around here they all look at you like RSD yeah i have heard of it but i dont know what to do or we cant do that around here. HHHHHEEEELLLLLPPPPPP!!!!!

have you tried fentanyl patches. i switched to patches cus i have crohnes and other gasto problems. so far it is better than taking all the meds you listed.

mike

All ready tried the patches. But thanks for your support.

hey lordwood. who ever told you that you are to advaced for the pump is wrong just wrong. i have only had mine for 5yrs but my rsd was already full body with organ involvement like yours.. im sorry that i dont know any docs that way your in PA right? aint so bad is there also .. he might know some great docs he has had rsd for 20=yrs .. i will ask him for you

hang in there hun

LWood,
I go to Dr Knobler, he's in Fort Washington, and is slowing down a bit these days.
He was partners with Schwartzman a couple of decades ago @ Jefferson, in Philly.

I can get you his #, if you'd like.

What type of doctors are you seeing now?

I often preach this "triangle of rsd care".

Your Meds = Your Doctor (Neurologist more than likely).

Your Mind = It's good to see a pain management Psych doc for a while, and re-up occasionally).

Your Health otherwise = EXCERCISE, and follow general good health guidelines. RSD is a Use it or lose it disease, as I'm sure you know.

I've had it since 83.

So, do you have a good neurologist? That's what Knobler is, along with Ph.d. (psych).
Start there, do you have a good hospital, best bet is a University hospital. Get to the "Cheif of Neurology". Or someone there who does know RSD.
Use the phone, and ask questions, like you're an employer testing a new hire! (That's exactly what you're doing).
If that doesn't work, find a pain management facility. Many hospitals have them.

I'm sorry that you don't like Dr Schwartzman. It does seem that he is channeling all his energy into his ketamine thing.

I know Dr Knobler is great, but he's almost two hours from Lancaster, but he IS only a mile from the turnpike! He does specialize pretty much in RSD, and MS.

Let me know, if I can help?

Pete
asb

It's about 75 miles from Lancaster, but Dr. Jhangir Maleki is wonderful. He's in Bala-Cynwyd. His hours are limited so you probably have to wait a few weeks to see him. His number is 610-949-7142. He's a wonderfully compassionate doctor.

I have tried for different pain clinics in the surrounding hospitals. My nearest is Lancaster General but there a joke when it comes to trying to deal with RSD. I have went from there to Childrens Hospital which was not help and than on to swartzman. I am currently still with my family doc cause all the neurologists around here are scared and morons and dont know what to do so they wont except me. I had been told there was a good pain management center at Geighsinger Hospital so my files were sent up to the chief neurologist who ran the pain management center he looked my file over and told me i was to complicated for him and his center he recommended Dr. Ronald Harbut, but Harbut has yet to restart a center and give recent new info on how to contact him cause all the previous contact info is out of date and you dont get anywhere near reaching him. Sady to get RSD in Lancaster is to be put in the middle of a place that could help you but refuses to as they dont understand rsd and are afraid of it. Lancaster's idea of a rsd patient is one where they go through therapy, get a nerve block, and or are with a pain therapist and than there fine. Well guess what i therapy failed, nerve blocks make mine worse and i have went to pain therapists that have told me after a year of session there is nothing that can be done untill i get somewhat of a relief from the RSD. problem is no one around here will do anything the neurologists hav heard of rsd but wont even try going out of the book to help the advanced like me so they ignore me and i am left screaming to the air cause no one helps. So give me the number of this doctor you see its worth a shot. Sherry and Schwartzman 2 of the top 3 rsd specialists have given up on me cause i am more advanced than they would like and any hopspital i send to replys with your to complicated to help. Thats why i feel so alone cause all of you guys actually have docs and are getting the procedures or meds and are not having to have everyone against you. I would love the luxury of even to have the lidocaine iv or even a pump. But no mine have to be to afraid to do anything out of the book. As well i am tired of all the kids that go to Dr. Sherry and are cured and especially those who find pain meds that work. I want to be in a hospital knocked out in a partial coma for at least a couple of days to give my brain a rest from the constant attacks. And i am tired of over dosing on oxycontin 80's and it doing zip absolutely nothing. i have cannot get to sleep anymore so i take 6mg of xanax at once to knock me out for alittle problem is my body is getting to use to that so its starting not to work so i have to up it more. I need a doctor to help me not these jackasses that just sit on there hands and even though i have done everything they wanted to try none of them will move on to other things. I am so FED UP with it all AHHHHHHHH!!!!

I'm not sure if you would want to travel to get to a good doc, but I'm from NY and travel to Cleveland, OH to the Cleveland Clinic Pain Treatment Center. I see a Dr. Michael Stanton-Hicks. He travels the world to lecture on RSD. He is an expert on it. He has helped me and I am far from an easy case. If you want a phone # I would be glad to pass it on. Or you can go to the Cleveland Clinics webpage and search for the doctor and read up on him. Let me know if I can help.

I saw Dr Stanton Hicks too. Have you docmilo6 had any procedures done by him? My friend had her scs implanted by him recently after many other types of treatment. Just wondering what you may have done with him. TO the original poster I missed the part about your stomach issues but the giral I am talking about here has rsd in her stomach in addition to her limbs and the scs helped for relief in all. I agree I hope your family goes to apts with you and can support you as well. Many thoughts

Hi daniella. Yes I have had procedures done by him. But I have not had a SCS placed. He has wanted to do the SCS for some time but I'm dragging my feet.
I do know others that have had him implant them though. How did your friend make out?

Mainly for me he has done all sorts of blocks and has implanted an epidural and sent me home on a pump with Fentanyl and Marcaine. One lasted 4 weeks and the other lasted 2 1/2 months before the catheter moved and had to be taken out.

What did you think of him? Did he help you? I hope so. I think he is a great man and definitely has a great mind. He is the one regulating what meds I take now.