[rtmcmahon631]

hi its me bob.I have not posted for awhile. I was being treated by a small town doc.last time i spoke.Now i amgoing to a hospital in burlington ma. had i bear block and waiting for another. first one gave me three days of relieve.The insurance company is saying that it was not enough of time to bother with another one.It burns in side my elbow and is all ways swollen.I just wanted to say hi and thank people for all the help I received before.oh and they took me off the gabapentin and put me on cymbalta and lyrica and they gave me tramadol for the pain.I ran into a old friend and his mom has nerve pain and the doc gave her a scripred for weed so i tried it for pain and it helps.

[loretta]

Hi Bob and Welcome again. I've had rsd 13 years and now full body. I wasn't diagnosed for 4 years, so I haven't had any blocks. But I do take cymbalta and do real well with it. Cymbalta replaced two other drugs I was on. I take 120 mg. I alsoo was on gabapentin for several years took 3200 mg. to stop the jerks, electric jolts, spams etc. switched to lyrica and lyrica did better on the burning pain for me. Took 400 mg. I take vicodin for pain, a sleeping pill and anti-anxiety med called lorazepam. I asked the Dr. to go off the lyrica, it causes weight gain and I felt that was dangerous to my health too. I went off gradually and am doing well, have had a couple electric jolts I'll tell my Dr. about next week. I've been off since last october. I lost 30 lbs and need to loose another 30.
I live in Arizona. We had the RSDSA annual meeting here in the spring and I attended. They said 50,000 cases of RSD are being diagnosed a year. RSDSA is going to release a video tape of the meeting.
It's been 115 degrees here. So hot. I had to get out today to go pick up some meds and go to store etc. I don't get out very often, can drive after waiting 3-4 hrs after taking pain meds. Be careful when you drive. it's the same as a duii if you drive too soon after taking certain meds.
Hope your block lasts longer. Are you in physical therapy or massage therapy. Even though I wasn't diagnosed, my surgeon sent me to physical therapy. I had frozen shoulder after surgery. It took 100 treatments, but got full use of my shoulder,arm back. I also did massage therapy, which I still do. Swimming is one of my favorite beneficial things to do for keeping mobile. I have one partially paralyzed hand, because of delay of diagnosis. But I did get a diagnosis, and then therapy gave me partial use of my hand.
In my opinion, therapy done by someone who knows what they are doing, is a favorable treatment to keep mobile. Also densitizing is very important. Are you sensitive to touch or fabrics, wind, etc? In physical therapy they gradually introduce different textures to get you used to being touched etc. They have you do the procedures everyday at home. You take about 5-6 plastic bowls, one of cotton balls,one of coffee grounds, one of rice, popcorn, and run your fingers, toes, thru the different bowls. I don't have sensitivity since I went thru therapy. Hope all works out for you, the earlier you get things under control the better. Take care, loretta

[bassman]

Originally Posted by rtmcmahon631

I ran into a old friend and his mom has nerve pain and the doc gave her a scripred for weed so i tried it for pain and it helps.

Bob,

Just a comment about weed. My daughter was trying to convince me to give it a try. However, I have signed a "drug contract" with my pain management clinic. Essentially, this says that I am subject to random drug tests. If these tests show anything that is nor prescribed by them, of if it shows I have been taking "too much" of the ones they prescribed, I can be kicked out of their clinic, In other words, I will cease to be a patient, and they may or may not take me back after a long time.

In addition, I am subject to random drug tests for my job. I have not had one for a couple of years, but it could happen at any time. The consequences for a positive test are costly to me.

Many people do not realize how long THC stays in the system - long after you have used it.

The relief may be worth the "risk," but everyone should consider all of the ramifications.

Good luck to you,

Mike