[fewdalord]

If so what pain med have you found to have least amount of effect in causing depression?

[dreambeliever128]

Most all of the pain meds did cause more depression for me. The only one that didn't was the Methadone. It actually made me feel like getting out and doing things. My dosage was very low but it did the job.

As far as depression meds, I couldn't take them either. Prozac and Zoloft made me more suicidal and I just couldn't take the others.

I do believe a lot of the pain meds do add to the depression. It does come though with the RSD, it just multiplies with the pain meds.

Ada

[Jimking]

Originally Posted by dreambeliever128

Most all of the pain meds did cause more depression for me. The only one that didn't was the Methadone. It actually made me feel like getting out and doing things. My dosage was very low but it did the job.

As far as depression meds, I couldn't take them either. Prozac and Zoloft made me more suicidal and I just couldn't take the others.

I do believe a lot of the pain meds do add to the depression. It does come though with the RSD, it just multiplies with the pain meds.

Ada

Good morning dreambeliever, I can only speak for my wife in that she received no help in controlling her pain when she was diagnosed with RSD. This lasted almost 4 years and was was losing it rapidly towards the end. That all changed when two doctors named Doctor Quint and Doctor Chin aggressively put forth a plan to control her pain using pain meds first, then other meds, PT, ketamine, lidocaine etc, Suzy has been able to cope a thousand fold. These doctors saved her life.

[dreambeliever128]

I honestly believe that the key to dealing with RSD are two things. Finding the right Drs., which is a feat in itself and learning all you can yourself about the RSD when you have it and use that knowledge to help yourself.

When my PCP couldn't diagnose me with TOS and RSD and the Drs. he sent me out to other Drs who couldn't, he ask me if I would buy a computer and help him diagnose me. It took us 3 years to finally figure out the TOS. My PA snapped his fingers when I told him and said he should have thought of it. He was a genius too.

I have worked my butt off to get better. I have ran up on Drs. that got mad at me because of what I knew, but the ones that were ok with my help, I still have.

I didn't just have the RSD to deal with though so we had to take things one at a time to get them better. My PCP is always saying," let's take one thing first". We get it calmed down and then start on the next. The RSD was the hardest though.

I was losing it too. I was to the point of suicide. The pain is overwhelming for us.

I'm glad your wife has you and the good Drs. to help her. That's what we need to get there.

Ada

[Gymjunkie]

Ada
I wasn't sure if I was understanding your post correctly - are you saying that your doctor asked you to buy a computer and essentially do your own diagnosis or help him to diagnose you? Three years later when you figured it out he actually told you that he should have thought of that diagnosis?

I appreciate that you may feel indebted to this person becuase you did get a diagnosis but if I have understood your post correctly I am stunned - that is breathtaking gross medical negligence in any country!

I hope that I have just misunderstood you - please tell me.

[dreambeliever128]

What I said is that he sent me out to Drs. that couldn't diagnose me and since he and my PA only had only one case each of TOS in their 20 years each they had trouble diagnosing the TOS. TOS is as hard to diagnose as RSD.

As far as being indebted to my PCP, I know I am. The man got me surgeries when I couldn't pay for them, he took care of me 5 years free due to me not having any insurance, once we got the diagnoses, he knew where to send me and what to do. He sent me to Neurologist, Ortho's and other Drs. and none of them could diagnose my TOS. I've had 24 surgeries in 15 years to deal with cancer issues, TOS, other arm issues and lots of tumors inside of me. I have no doubt what I owe him. He took care of Bill also and was friends with him. He spoke at Bill's funeral, he takes care of my kids and grandkids.
I consider him one of the smartest Drs. I have ever met.

It is not gross negligence. How many Drs. have you seen that couldn't diagnose the RSD? Don't we hear that all of the time on here? How many of the people on here have been able to diagnose themselves with RSD due to no Dr. being able to do it? It happens.



Ada

[Jimking]

Originally Posted by Gymjunkie

Ada
I wasn't sure if I was understanding your post correctly - are you saying that your doctor asked you to buy a computer and essentially do your own diagnosis or help him to diagnose you? Three years later when you figured it out he actually told you that he should have thought of that diagnosis?

I appreciate that you may feel indebted to this person becuase you did get a diagnosis but if I have understood your post correctly I am stunned - that is breathtaking gross medical negligence in any country!

I hope that I have just misunderstood you - please tell me.

What my wife and I witnessed dealing with the diagnoses and treatment of RSD from many doctors, Ada's computer episode is tame in comparison. It was shear hell for my wife and unbelievable for me to fathom. I was totally dumbstruck. The search for compassionate knowledgeable doctors took years to seek out. Almost every doctor we went to said they treat RSD only to find out they don't because it became very obvious.

[ali12]

Hi Fewdalord,

I'm not on any medications at the moment other than Ketamine when i'm in a really bad pain flare as they didn't help me at all and made me very depressed!

I felt so anxious and sad whilst on the meds and wouldn't leave my room at all. I just sat in bed all day not wanting to do anything. I remember having to go to the hospital with my mum and I would kick and scream the whole way there even whilst she was driving as I was so depressed and felt as though she was doing something wrong even though she was trying to get me help!! I felt SO bad afterwards but at time time, I couldn't control it!

I still get depressed sometimes but it isn't as bad as it was from the meds thankfully. The only med I have really found that doesn't make me depressed is Ketamine - it seems to have the oposite effect and makes me feel more positve about life!!

Do you see a Psychologist?? It might be worth speaking to one due to the depression to see if they can help you. RSD affects your life in lots of ways and no one can expect you to go through it on your own so never be afraid to ask for help!

I'm sorry that you're dealing with this also! I wish I could help you more but just know that you aren't alone and if you ever need to talk, I am here for you!!

Take care of yourself and I hope you find something that helps you soon and doesn't cause any nasty side effects!!

[SandyRI]

I've had some severe bouts of depression for a few months now, and I have wondered whether or not my meds contributed to it. During that time I was suffering from increasingly high pain levels, which I couldn't get under control until I went on Methadone (5mg x3) 2 weeks ago. Additionally, I've been unduly harrassed by WC since the "probable" RSD diagnosis last June. Included in my cocktail of meds is Topamax, which can cause suicidal thoughts.

In the anti seizure family of meds, I've also tried Gabapentin and Lyrica. I didn't tolerate either one of them well, and because head pain is my primary complaint I decided to try the Topamax. It has not caused weight loss for me, as it reputed to for many others (just the opposite, I've gained about 5 lbs). I think I was much more grumpy (for lack of a better word) on the other 2 meds than the Topamax.

I haven't found any problems with depression with either Methadone or Percocet, the other drugs I take for pain on a regular basis. I also take Cymbalta and use Catepres (clonidine patch) for hbp.

Sandy

[SBOWLING]

This is an intersting thread.
We know chronic pain in and of its self causes depression. Excercise, PT and a GOOD phsycologist have helped me keep my depression under control. I took cymbalta for 5 years I just went off last Nov. I wanted to loose a pill in my "cocktail" so after talking with my PM and phsycologist we decided I didn't need it.

Something else we all know is that the medications we need to manage RSD have all kinds of side effects. Just a few of them are joint pain, weakness, fatiague and the side effect of these feelings can lead to depression.

As for the comments on doctors. I agree insurance, laws for narcotics and just having or wanting to take the time to deal with the complex nature of RSD turns a lot of doctors off to our need for help. I feel some doctors are owned by insurance companies and some are obligated to suppliers of drugs and medical equipment. For example the doctor who did my SCS was under contract with the supplier to implant so many SCS'S over a period of time. So now it becomes more about his obligation to the supplier than the true concern for the well being of the patient.

Finding a doctor who understands RSD is hard. If you find one you trust and he/she may not know a lot about RSD but is willing to take the time and learn and work with you toward managing your pain IMO he/she is a keeper.
I reached a point after so many doctors I started asking point blank. Do you understand RSD and are you willing to commit the time it will take to find what works for me? I don't want an endless supply of prescriptions and I don't want to live a haze. I want to be a part of what is going on around me. If they couldn't answer that question then I didn't keep them on my the medical team.
RSD was and is out of my realm of intelligence I need willing doctors to help me with my quality of life.
Take care,
Sherrie