Hey there,
Anyone out there know of a good PM doc or neurologist in Fresno or Central Ca? Or somewhere to begin to look? Done a bit of searching but havent had much luck finding anyone that sounds like they specialize in or have experience with rsd.

I am not sure in central ca. I went to a few in la area when I lived there. I would call your local hospital or do you have a university or teaching hospital and ask the dept if they have someone who deals with rsd. Good luck I know how hard it is trust me I have seen many

Geronimo,

Find the nearest
University Hospital.
Get online, and go to their website. (You might hafto do some traveling, but, an hour or three drive is normal for this).

University Hospital, usually in a city.
Check out their "Neurologists".
Call, the "Cheif of Neurology, you'll speak to his secretary.
Tell your "short story" (Have note pad in hand),
and, find which one, if not the "Cheif" him/herself, is interested in treating your RSD. (Still, in this Day and Age, we must put up with ninny arsed doctors who don't believe it even exists!).
So, basically what I'm asking you to do is, "Hire a doctor".
Check them out.
Ask the tough questions BEFORE you go there! (NOT about drugs), you just want HELP!

Do they know RSD? (yes)
Do they treat RSD? (yes)
Do they have other patients with it, and are they fairly successful? (tough to answer)
(These are "kiddy" questions, that a used car salesman could answer).
But, doctors aren't usually liars.

So, to recap.
Get on the computer, (I think you're there already)
Google university hospitals for cities near you.

Go to their websites,
Contact their "Cheif of Neurology" (whom, you've already read about on their website).

Once you call several, you'll narrow it down, and get a "good feeling" about it "In Your Gut".

GO! (After working out the ins drama)...

PS I found this, it's old, but the doctors may be relavant.. You might want to contact them, They're TEACHING about RSD! (In Fresno)!

http://www.fresno.ucsf.edu/continuin...e_lectures.htm

I wish you the very best!

We're all here for you,

Pete
Asb

This guy wrote a pretty decent paper on CRPS a few years ago. It's a start...

http://www.discmdgroup.com/pain-mana...r-bio.asp?ID=3

Hi geronimo,

I havent been able to find a good neuro or pain managment doc, but do have a great primary care doc that is familiar because of me lol.

If you want I can pm you the info, and if you happen on to a good doc let me know also.

I went to the "Find a Professional" page of the American Academy of Pain Management http://www.aapainmanage.org/search/MemberSearch.php, entered "California" [keeping the "profession" field set at "all" where otherwise the catagories by sub-specialties will produce artificiallly short lists] and came up with a long list of certified pain specialists, including:

Robert G Salazar, MD
ANESTHESIOLOGY

7152 N Sharon #105
Fresno, CA 93720
Diplomate
Ph: (559) 432-6807
Fx: (559) 432-6937

That said, I only got about 1/4 of the way through the list, and would encourage you to check it out yourself. Hope it's helpful.

Mike

P.S. After posting this I did some more research on certifying organizations and realized that the American Academy of Pain Management was something anyone who had practiced in the field and promised to complete 100 hours of continuing medical education over a four year period "of which 50 are related to pain or pain management." http://www.aapainmanage.org/members/Credentialing.php which is nothing where I used to be certified as a bankruptcy specialist that required 70 hours of bankruptcy specific continuing education every two years.

The real certifying group group by all appearances is the American Board of Pain Medicine, first, insofar as they only include physicians, second that part of their mission is to "develop standards and requirements for graduate medical education in Pain Medicine in collaboration with other concerned organizations and agencies," e.g. that they supervise standards in residency programs across the country and they in turn certify only people who meet their educational (residency and/or fellowship) standards, and third pass an 8 hour written exam. http://www.abpm.org/about/index.html That said, they have only 225 +/- doctors certified in the State of California, only one whom is in Fresno, and he's at Kaiser:

Dr John Soebagio, MD
Kaiser Permanente
7300 N Fresno St
Fresno, CA 93720

Office Fax: (559)448-3813

Office Phone: (559)448-4500

Here's their directory, which I would encourage you to explore: http://www.association-office.com/ab...dir/search.cfm

Bumping to note an important correction in my last post regarding the "comparitive value" of certification by the American Academy of Pain Management, as opposed to that of the American Board of Pain Medicine. Please look at the post-script that's been added.

Secondly, I added an important technical instruction regarding the use of the American Academy of Pain Management site.

I live in central ca and have been to lots of doctors here. Most times I get the drug seeking BS from them, or they just dont believe RSD is a real problem.

There is a vascular doctor that is very knowledgeable about RSD, and helped me get SSDI, but he wont do on going care. So I have pretty much stayed with the primary doc for everything RSD. I do see a pain management doctor that is a neuro doctor, but only see him for my back troubles. Been going everyday for the IDD therapy, and I have a thread about him and his questions and disbelief.

Let me know if you want my primary doctor's info

Wow, Mike. You're recommending an HMO doc???

Hey, guy, you know I like the specialists at Kaiser. The only issue of real substance for folks with CRPS is that if you are not already a "member," you're not going to get in, at least under an individual plan. From the relevant Kaiser Permanente webpage:

[Q.] How long does the application review process take, and how will I know if I am accepted?

[A.] We will notify you as soon as possible about the status of your application.
Please do not cancel any existing medical insurance coverage until you have received written acceptance of your new coverage from Kaiser Permanente.

[Q.] Is a physical exam required to qualify?

[A.] No. But each applicant (you and each family member to be covered) must answer questions about his or her health status and certain medical conditions.

https://www.buykp.org/Faqs.aspx

Mike