[Hoozdo]

LOL, Woody. You know, I came across the corn cob theory online the other day. Except it's not corn cobs..........it was corn meal. I thought flying corn cobs would be awfully rough on a body!

Now, let's hear from some of you other nurses. Raise your hand if you NEVER HEARD of this d/x!

[woody62]

Originally Posted by Hoozdo

LOL, Woody. You know, I came across the corn cob theory online the other day. Except it's not corn cobs..........it was corn meal. I thought flying corn cobs would be awfully rough on a body!

Now, let's hear from some of you other nurses. Raise your hand if you NEVER HEARD of this d/x!

I got the corn part right.

Woody

[czyja]

Originally Posted by Hoozdo

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy?

I was tentatively d/xed with it today

I am glad you found a good online support group. This is tough disease - I have seen it about half a dozen times in the psychiatrist's office where I work. Some of the pts recovered quite well. Take good care of yourself - I will hold you in my thoughts and prayers.

[Hoozdo]

Originally Posted by czyja

I am glad you found a good online support group. This is tough disease - I have seen it about half a dozen times in the psychiatrist's office where I work. Some of the pts recovered quite well. Take good care of yourself - I will hold you in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you Update - I definitely have RSD d/xed by EMG and full body bone scan. This dx is very difficult.....doctors tend to think you are drug seeking

I am extremely lucky to be d/xed so early in the disease. I have good chances for going into remission. So far I have had one sympathetic block (stellate ganglion) that I received a bit of relief from. Neurorologist and physicatrist (not to be confused psychiatrist, ) both agree I will need at least 5 blocks to go into remission. I am very hopeful

One big complication is that my hypothalamus has kind of gone kuckoo releasing too much ACTH resulting in sky high glucose readings. I can go from 90 to over 500 in about 3 hours without eating a thing. Waiting to get into endo and doing Q2hr accuchecks and inuslin!

THanks again.

[czyja]

Originally Posted by Hoozdo

This dx is very difficult.....doctors tend to think you are drug seeking

I know. Isn't that horrid? This would drive the shrink I work for NUTS. The pt's PCP (and very often the pt's insurer) would think the pt was drug seeking therefore pt would not get adequate pain control for this very painful condition, this would lead to major depression and voila the pt is in our office with suicidal ideation. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Needless and stupid. Incompetant care makes me feel a profound sense of outrage. Arrrghh!

I am so happy you caught this in a timely fashion. I dont know you but in all honesty I have been thinking about you all morning. I dont know what to say except that I am very happy that things are going as well as possible for you.

Get well soon!

[Hoozdo]

Thank you for the well wishes and good thoughts czyja

[charebec65]

One of my best friends has it and has for quite a few years. He's not been one of the fortunate ones though and has had a really rough course with it. I have chronic pain for other reasons so I can relate to a certain extent. It's good you caught it early! Hope all goes well!

[athena55]

Hello All,
For some odd reason I just now saw this posting regarding RSD or CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) which is, I guess you could call it, the NEW name for RSD.
Have had this bloody thing since 1995 had bone graft done. Wasn't diagnosed in time, well time enough for any type of physical therapy to be effective.
Spent a lot of time in great amounts of pain before I found a really good knowledgeable pain management physician who knew about RSD. You would be surprised how many physicians out there never heard of RSD/CRPS.
Have been on soooo many different pain meds: Fentanyl patches, OxyContin, Methadone, TENS unit, Elavil, mega doses Neurontin.....My X-Rays really didn't show much bone thinning either, but then again, that is not a definitive diagnostic test anyway. Much of the time RSD is diagnosed based on the patient's signs/symptoms
I am one of the lucky ones. I am presently in remission. Not sure how long it (the remission) will last...Still have the burning pain to my affected arm BUT it is a tolerable 8/10 instead of the 25/10. Have been able to wean off the pain meds, still take Neurontin but was able to wean myself (with the assistance of my pain MD) down from 2400 mg/day to 600 mg/day (enough to keep the burning, stabbing bone/muscle pain at a minimum)
I don't have full use of my affected arm/hand plus I have RSD to my thigh (after I received a IM injection there) and in my knee (s/p patella dislocation)
I am not sure why ANYONE would pretend to have such a horrid thing like RSD/CRPS. If I could only go back in time and not have the original surgery. I lost many years of my life because of this bloody thing.

[Hoozdo]

Thanks for the input Athena. It's nice to know somebody in remission! Sympathetic blocks (stellate ganglion) are working for me, but it's like pulling teeth to get Workman's Comp! I have been waiting over a month for block#3 and am losing valuable time

I am back at work now on light duty. My limit is 15 lbs AND IT IS TRUE TOO! Going to PT a total of 9 hours a week. I don't have much of a choice - go to PT or have my arm wither away.
Take care all and thanks for the input

[czyja]

Originally Posted by Hoozdo

Thanks for the input Athena. It's nice to know somebody in remission! Sympathetic blocks (stellate ganglion) are working for me, but it's like pulling teeth to get Workman's Comp! I have been waiting over a month for block#3 and am losing valuable time

Hiya Hoozdo! I am glad to hear you are feeling a little better. I work in the workers comp arena and insurance companies are truly awful. Kick, scream, and threaten to get the treatment you need. Do you have a lawyer? If not, get a good one. You have a highly compensable work related condition. A lawyer will be all over the insurers. Also if you are in Cali or a handful of other states psych sequelae are covered. I few visits with a counselor, preferably in an integrated pain management setting is known to help.

XOXOXOXO