Just wondering... about the ketamine cream. Do you need a Dr. to perscribe it for you or can you just buy it? Thanks for any info.



Oh, and welcome, Joan.

Hi all. I'm new here too. I live in Australia and came across your site through a New Zealand Yahoo RSD group. You have a great site and obviously support each other. I had a colles wrist fracture in 1998 and an 55 now. Up to 35% of colles fracturs develop into crps and up to 40%of knee surgeries. I noticed some of you talking about surgery. In the US Professer Scott Reuben has developed protocols for surgery and dental work, also trauma to prevent the development of crps, or the worsening of crps if you already have it. You can google "dr scott reuben protocols" or if you wish you can go to the crps/rsd related articles to the left of my blog.

http://www.crps-rsd-a-better-life.blogspot.com/

I also noticed some of you mentioning eye problems. Dr Robert Schwartz in the US has written about the connection betweencrps and eyes, hormones, dental things and heart. That article also is in my links or just google. He is spot on in what he says as far as I'm concerned with heart and dental issues.
Don't know if it's an issue for any of you but I live near the beach and weas stung by a blue bottle before Xmas. I had an extreme reaction, severe burning, pain travelled quickly into the groin, tongue swelled, voice changed etc. I've been stung much worse before crps and never this kind of reaction. I suspect due to the autonomic nature of crps that crps could have been responsible. So be careful all of you.
jeisea

hi joan, welcome to our little family......
sorry that you have to suffer with the rsd too, but at least we can all come here to talk to others, and learn all we can to help ourselves..........
again, welcome..........
jules, i am sorry that i didn't think the color would hurt others eyes....i can hardly read small print, and the caps also are hard, but i can read the colors just fine.........i will stick with the black print from now on tho...sorry......

Vanessa
you will need a prescription for the cream. Here is the one I have been using. I am currently waiting for the new one to come from the mail order compounding pharmacy - it will have the ketamine increased to 10%. I have read online that most people used it at more than I had been, so mentioned it to my Dr. - for my next refill he had no problem upping the % for me to try.

2% amitriptyline hydrochloride
2% bupivacaine hydrochloride
5% gabapentin
5% ketamine hydrochloride
5% ketoprofen
2% lidocaine
in Lipoderm (I think) base. They switched bases a couple times trying to find one that allowed the medication to absorb better into the skin.

I think most people use just lidocaine and ketamine. My doctor got this "recipe" from a pharmacy that makes various creams for RSD, and he thought it would workt he best for me. I've read about people using baclofen in theirs, and I'd like to try having it added, but he thinks there are enough things in it. I can't take amitriptyline or gabapentin very well orally, but it does not bother me in the cream.

Thought I would pop in and welcome all the new members!

thanks for all the welcomes! and thanks for the info on the mixture of the creams you use. i am debating what next ... we have a pharmacy right down the street that mixes the stuff ... and i have used a mix before, for back pain, before my facet blocks. i did have a problem though, with burns on my skin and still have scars from it ... anyone have that problem? my other question is does anyone have problem removing the patches? i have used the over the counter pain patches and removing them was very rough. ouch!
anyhow, i will read the site about the dental and eyes, thank you. my dentist over medicates me with a gel and then many injection [which i don't feel] and i take four ibuprophen before i go. i was in the midst of a flare when i went for a recent cleaning, and i can tell you, i will never do that again. everything hurt and the flare got worse. so one thing always sets the other off.
also found the info on the rsd after knee surgery and with the wrists interesting. we have so much info it is a wonder that no one has found a cure of some sort. i was very interested, and did some reading on, the clodronate, i believe injections, maybe we are getting close to answers? i will still have the nerve palsy anyhow but i could do without the swelling and pain.
well, it is raining here for the first day of the new year ... i wish you all a good and hope-filled new year. joan

Hi joan,
Birds Hill Pharmacy in needham makes a compounding cream for RSD with any/all of the ingrediants listed in previous posts. They are very knowledgable and helpful and will ship the cream to your home. you can look them up online and read about their rsd specific combo.

Just wondering who your doctor is? I am from boston and found the world of "boston's best doctors" to be a joke. I can certainly share with you who to stay away from.

If you are seeking any advice on alternative therapies in the area I'd be glad to help out.

nice to meet you,
Lisa

hi lisa,
nice to meet a fellow massachusetts rsd-er. thanks for the info on the pharmacy, but i do have one right here in fall river that does the mixtures.
as far as doctors, i have stayed with my pcp. he was the medical director in the hospital where i worked, pre-rsd and so we get along very well. i have two doctors in boston, one for my hip replcement [#3] follow-ups, and one for my degenerative spine, both are at new england baptist hospital. they are wonderful but they do not get involved with my rsd. i was actually diagnoses in braintree at the rehab hospital where i was seeing a doctor for my 'hip replacement [#2] gone wrong' pain filled nerve palsy. i read alot about blocks and scs and such, but i am not willing to go that route, at least not yet, so i figure i am better off with a doctor who listens that one who doesn't because from all i have read, this is a monster who is different for everyone and no one has real answers.
i just read back over threads and see that you are now pain free? ... and maybe were misdiagnoses? oh boy. well, i am happy for you, that is for sure. when my ortho went in to do replacement #3 he looked at the nerves and for any entrapment and he cleaned off some scar tissue but i only got a litle movement back afterwards ... but a good hip, so i can't complain about him at all.
well, again congrats! and nice to meet you. joan