I spent 4 appts over the summer up until Nov 29, 2006 with Dr. S.He is not retired and from what I was told is not retiring.... Please do not be misled. Or maybe I'm wrong but that is what he told me...
Ann...

Hi All,

I have read here that some believe that Dr. Schwartzman is retired. I am a patient of his and just saw him in Jan 08 and spoke to him about 3 weeks ago and have an appt in July 08.

Yes, he is very hard to see he has over 3000 patients so you can imagine. It is worth the wait. I was sent there by my main Pain Doctor and they have worked together to get me better. He is very compassionate I had some problems with the ketamine and his sincerity was genuine.

We all have to remember RSD does not have a cure or at least I have never heard of one, remission yes so see the best if you can....



Ann

I think what you said about the old boy network is generally so true , but I have not found this to be true with RSd. Since there is no known rsd cure, thees doctors, most of them in non profit settings are all working on their own methods and ofter wont even share information- they have such pressure on them to publish. its part of their profession. I cant wait for the day when they all are sharing and the sooner the better for all of us.
I look for the most respected and frankly the doctor I feel I will have the best communucation with. To me it is a bonus if it is non profit. Most of these doctors have devoted there lives to something that have few successes and very small rewards along the way. There is a great deal of frustration for those of them that truely care- that they can not help those of us that are suffering. So I look at their education, where they work , If I like them and If they are trying something that I havent tried already. Hope you are still doing well. CZ

if your under 18 dr.sheery at the childerns hopstial in philly is amazing and i her dupont hospital in de had a docter that dose this too but you have to be under 18

Thank you, Lisa.....I really appreciated what you typed....I'm sitting here in new surroundings as I've been moved by someone who says he's "helping me"...After having the diagnosis of RSD since Oct. 07...I've really tried to do all I thought I should do and all I've been "advised" to do.....And I'm still dealing with more pain than a mind should have to deal with.......I'm so frapping depressed.....I passed my wits end months ago.....I feel so alone I just can't say it enough.....I have not one "true" friend left, I fear....As those who say their helping me are only going through the motions, at times....I feel like such a burden and really don't want to live, if this is what my life is about.....I saw Dr. S. for the second time....A re-consultation they called it.... whisked through there like, omg what just happened.... And left with Dr. S saying to me, and I quote.....Just if you would, stay long enough to fill out the paperwork the front desk gave you and leave everything else to me, I'll handle it"....WTF.....Weeks later, here I sit and I have not a clue what's going on, if anything......Reading information about this thousand dollar unit like the TENS that you stick your feet on and regain Chi....ha...frapping bologna......Friggen workman's come....Life.....Just watching the world pass me by and not a soul to give a chit either way....Folks are too busy with their own lives to see desperation in one little grain of sand on this blue marbled beach.....I feel useless, worthless and down right not worth the powder to blow me to hell......No one to talk to and even if there was someone to talk to....it goes in one ear and out the other....No one hears.....The pain I have drives everyone away....They ask, how are you....and don't want to hear it......I'm still waiting for the bruise.....Nothing wrong with me and I'm incapacitated...And loose what's left of my mind on a weekly basis........Now that's going on, blowing wind.....I think to myself....If they did care, they'd be glad to help me or spend time with me....But, Naw....I'm only fooling myself....Cause here I sit...day after day after month after year, by myself...More so...Alone...helpless and useless and not worth the powder to blow me to hell....That's what looking for a Doctor that will help me to at least have a better quality of life, has done for me....And that's what this "whole body CRPS", pain has done to me....I'm not the me, my brain says I am....And I haven't been for quite some time.....Yeah, I know....I'm depressing....No chit....I'm depressed...More so, I mourn daily of the loss of my life as I knew it.......And that is killing me....I'm dying of a broken heart...The loss of me....My lifetime partner.

Carol has quit **
She became so bad that she would sneak out of the office to avoid setting appointments She is gone.

Hi there was a Doctor Knobbe I think thats right who had RSD and treated it . I live in Oregon (excuse my spelling) I went to the Hahnneman Hospital then when another Doctor saw me I think it is called the Thomas Jefferson Hospital ,other than UCLA (its in LA scary but great hospital) and UCSF and Stanford within a days drive (long Day) in San Francisco ,I have tried every trial from the sixties util the nineties ,I was a Rabbit
But I have had RSD 45 years
Gentle Hug
rsdno

The top int he field is Dr.Schwartman. HE is retired, but does do some work in Hannaman yet. It can take years to see him, nut he trains his staff welll, even interns from Psych dept on rotation I observed him demostrate RSD and TOS for them to see even if the test show nothing the pain in not in their head and this is how you test, or reproduce to establish the problem.

He is cutting edge on Ketomine and lidocain IV, I think that was what they used. My daughter did not have the treatments but I met many that came to Phila to be treated.

Did you treat with Dr. Togut, if so he has a sonsultation ability with Dr. S to get his patients of need seen.
You amy be too young to be treated with Ketamine protocol, but not to see Dr.S. He saw my dauther and she was just turning 18.
I would consult with Dr.Togut and see what he suggest and strings he can pull for Dr.S to Consult your situation.

I am not sure but call there is it universtiy of PA on 15th, Center city exit, onto Broad st, second left there is parking near the hospital, office is across the street.

Another one you may want to call or email is Dr. Scott Fried OF THE UPPER EXTREMITY INSTITUTE, blue bell, PA www.nervepain.com
Opps sorry for caps, lap top......
Been down this road with my daughter since she was 16, she will be 30 in a few months.

Di

Does your daughter still have RSD, and if so, has it improved? How did she get it?

Thanks for the replies everyone... you were of help.

Venessa,
My daughter was 16 when injured, she is going to be 30 yrs old in May. Her life is pain managing it and getting through one day at a time. A lot of the CRPS is touching items like terry towels, makes zaps up the hands and freaks here...too much stimulation. She has occasional flares of RSD that her arm will swell and it is triggered by change of seasons or heat. If she didn't have me as an advocate for her treatments the last 13 years, I am not sure what would happen to her.....

She had multiple surgeries; she almost did a lidoderm IV with Dr.Schwartzman but her bipolar would not be good her for her to be there ten days. Also, Dr.Schwartzman is not supportive for narcotic therapy, he wnated her to detox when she was done completly, not reduce or change meds.
But, in any other manner, he is the man. Paternal, grandfatherly, caring, supportive and dedicated!

There have been many surgeries, from CT, to breast reduction, to first rib removed, scar matter cleaned up from nerves....But as you and I chat here, she has difficulties. She can share where her pain is, activities that make it worse, only thing she ahd no anser to is how do you live, get up in the morning and pretend not to be disabled. Not even pretend, but, unable to make the most of her day. A good pain rehabilatations center to help her gain what she can, show her how to reduce what makes it hurt would be best...

I am hoping she will go to a place in Maryland. It is called I think Messa Clinic, or Mennsa. They do an overhaul, take you to medical centers for test and figure out what is tehre and an what more to do for your life.
I really would like her to decide to go there by spring.

De has Allodynia, hyper sensations to the brain. If you touch her with a tiny tip that has one end with three picks, and the other end a tiny paint brush tip, she could nto decern what is touching her, it all hurts.

She has a brachial nerve injury across the traps and into the arms from a stretch injury to the arms and uppper back and neck.If she is not looking a t a glass in her hands, she can not feel it, the lack of the brain focusing on it the hands do "feel" it and it dropps, big time droppsies are frustrating.

I would say she would talk to you....she is not really computer minded. But, if I can get her a better day I bet she will email.
You can feel free to ask about her treatments, mducation combos that worked and didn't.

THe hardest thing for her and our family is a life that has known pain since being a teen. She never really grew up, maturate normally. It has been a life of workers comp battles, applying for Social security. She has emotional problems triggered from not having good chronic pain psych support to how to grow uo, and manage a life with disability.Bi-polar.

I had gone to the same psych and he was the greatest. I was injured in 2000 and unable to return to my job as apolice Chief. I was so upset and hated not being thought of with respect anymore. To my coworkers I was a deadbeat on disability.
I also have TOS, herniations in neck and lumbar, rsd in the feet, carpal tunnel in hands, cervoigenic headpains.

With adaptive support from voc rehab and a great college system I retrained at 50 years old and work part time. I supervise court ordered visitations. Many of my clients were spouse or child abusers, predators, also mental disabilities.
I use a hot tub, valium as a muscle relaxant, topomax, lidoderm patches, toradol for flares and percocet. Biofreeze rub on, heating pad, and ice on neck.

I do feel as I was removed from work with in weeks of my injury, I did not get as bad as many others.
For me, I do not act limited at home. I do ask family to do hard chores, I do neglect chores, I am always involved mentally. In legal fronts as an advocate for mentally disabled, for a community recreations centr, even emergency management committies for our local area.

Also the forum, my friends on here have been a lifeline of information and support for ten years.
my email is dimarie11@yahoo.com
Dianne