Hello tina,   My RSD is from a surgery..( ulnar nerve transposition) It was just in my right arm now I feel it in my left and my back. As for my dr he dosent tell me much and when he does I cant understand him... he's russion lol lol. But it sucks he is the only pain clinic within an hours drive. My whole story started with a work injury where my arm kept getting worse till one morning I woke up unable to raise it or streighten it. From there I was diagnosed with cuts syndrome, carpal tunnel, cronic tndonitis....in both arms, and bulging cervical disk.  At this rate if im 35 and feeling 90 I dont want to know how ill feel in even 5 years. All my dr's seem to just write me off and give me more meds. I'm not sure maine is a good place to be medical tech wise.

So how about you? How has your battle been? You are a verry gracious person to ask me how i am I realy appreciate it !!!

Hi Sillyme,

 The more I read your post the more it looks like I wrote them, are problems are almost identical except for I am a Male and I was 46 when I couldnt raise my left arm or move it. It was in 2000 when that happened right after a left arm carpal tunnel and a repair to the left unler nerve as it had a transposition in 94. By 2000 the left ulner had become completely entrapped in scar tissue, it was then I found out that the Dr that originally done my left transposition was not qualified to do nerve surguries(he was a comp Dr). He had actually done both of my elbos in 94 and both of them were intrappen by scar tissue by 2000 but the left was much worse, my right is still partially entrapped but after finding out I had RSD the Drs decided not to open my arms again. To date I have had 2 ulner nerve transpo's and the left had to be redone but to no avail....it is destroyed and I have had carpal tunnels on both hands twice...for a total of 7 nerve surguries on my arms in a 6 year period. And yes, the pain goes down my spine to T8 where the sympathetic nerve comes out of the spine. I also have a bulging disc in my SI joint. There are so many similarities between us I think even tho its not good I have to laugh. It been 9 years for the RSD now and I feel as I am doing better now that I was even 3 years ago. I think the big thing for getting a little better was simply accepting my condition and letting the anger of what the work comp Dr's and system in general did to me during the first few years....it was so bad Im not even going it to it! You probably know anyway if you too had to deal with W/C..LOL

 The final answer to my treatment was Oxycontin, I have been on a moderate dose for 6 years now and its still working for me...no! I dont get high from it, it gives me some quality of life. I am on Pharma Purdue's patient assistance program and my perscription comes driectly from them @ $25 a month instead of full prive of $589. For anybody who wants to know about this program here is pharma purdue's patient assistance PH # 1-800-599-6070. If anybody is on SSDI or on a limited income and with a little assistance from your Dr you too can get this tremendious discount. I dont recomend Oxycontin as it is addictive but that is all that worked for me...I was on every drug there is in a 2 year period before they gave me Oxycontin and  not once have I excedded my perscribed dose nor has it caused me any health problems.

Frank

OMG frank   you are right you cant help but laugh. I,m hopeing to  avoid anymore surgerys.  The dr's so far are just tring the blocks to se if a implant might help or possibly a remision. I take a mixture of percocettes, nurontin, and flexeril. It seems to help so far, but im to far medicated to tell some days, that part I hate. I had woried about the rsd jumping to other injury sights the minute I was diagnosed but my doc said no that cant happen, well hes not the brightest bulb---lol.

Hi again Sillyme,

 If your Dr thinks that RSD wont go to other nerve damage as they are also pain generators....you need a different Doctor! My Dr is in Ft collins Colorado and 95% of the people he treats have RSD...his speciality,he gave me this statistic.  He knows more about RSD than any other Dr I have ever seen and RSD travels in a large percentage of his patients. Ever hear about "mirrored pain". like when one arm is in pain the other one follows suit? I would like to talk to your Dr and wise him up but in reality...from what you wrote he dosent know squat. If you are on percocette you should know that is is also an opiate but it does signifacant damage to your liver and other internal organs, at least Oxycontin(what I take) dosent do that. Actually before I found my current Dr I also was taking the same drugs as you and they kind of worked, the Dr switched me to Oxycontin so I would have the liver/kidney ect. damage. Of course I do not recomed Oxycintin, I get real sick and its similar to RSD x 10 when I run out over a weekend and have withdraw symptons...their awful at best. I drive an hour to see my doctor and its worth it, I dont have to drive an hour each month to get my scripts filles as my local family Dr works with my RSD dr and I get my perscriptions right here at home. All I have to do is see my pain specialist once a year and get his approval to stay on the oxycontin,because I have never once abused it or asked for a bigger dose I have no problems!

Frank