Trix...can't type tonite but wanted to say sorry about dx...I agree, doc was way out of line. I also read sgb is most effective at early onset, as Dawn says. Lyrica may help, too...I haven't had any more bad hot/sweaty stuff since starting it, but do have more burning pain, so not sure whether it's helping or not. I may be 2 steps behind u

Take care and find a better doc!

Trix,

My PCP recognized my sx as possibly being RSD, but like yours, knew absolutely nothing about treating it. He only knew the sx because he'd had a couple of other patients with it. He gave me no pain meds, only sent me for pain management once I insisted, and did not have any idea that RSD CAN be put in remission sometimes, if a series of SGBs are done before the pain becomes sympathetically independent, usually within the first 3-6 months, sometimes the window is a bit longer, it differs according to the individual.

There is VERY little training on RSD in medical school, maybe a couple or 3 questions on one test in Neurology, and most med students won't see a case during internship unless they happen to get assigned to an in-hospital pain clinic setting. The ones who will get further training are the neurologists and anesthesiologist/pain management MDs.

A few people have had luck with physiatrists, who are physical medicine Drs, but my experience was similar to what was posted earlier, there was not enough wrong with my body (a severe inflammation of my brachial plexus had been dx'd) to account for my pain - therefore, I needed to ignore the pain and strengthen my body. His PT plan was all weights, therabands and handbike, and left me in MUCH worse pain than before I began it - good plan, Doc!

By the way - on the lupus question? Your MD is not all that qualified to dx that either - chronic fatigue syndrome can cause joint pain, and so can RSD - I've dealt with it for quite a while.It went completely away for awhile after I had ketamine IV treatment, but is back as well as a majority of sx.

If you feel that you can bring your PCP around to be supportive, educate him about RSD and get him to refer you to the appropriate Dr, all of which will take time and effort on your part, go for it. If you decide keeping this Dr is not worth that much effort, then do what I did - start talking to everyone you know locally, ask them if they know any pain Drs, or anyone who goes to one, talk to any nurses you know, even slightly, they're great sources of info on Drs, and get out the phone book and look under pain management and neurologists. Ask to speak with the nurse - see if the Dr has treated RSD, and if they only do blocks and injections or if they are multi-disciplinary - such places offer services like OT, PT, counseling, pain education, massage, accupuncture,etc. a few or several depending on the practice.

It's easier to change Dr's at this point in your journey than a few years on, I don't know how I'd begin to go about finding someone who'd WANT to accept me and my volumes of medical records dating just since 2003.

Anyway, my point is, you NEED a good Dr trained in dealing with RSD - who WILL manage your PAIN - that's a neurologist or a pain management/anesthesiologist MD. And you need to get to one pretty soon, to get that series of blocks started. PCP's hate to admit they don't know what they're talking about, but RSD is one area they DON'T know what they're talking about - and I think that's WRONG! Shelly, I'm glad you got to a specialist. 3 days is longer than I ever went, good for you! Hope each time lasts longer, that is the desired result!

beth