Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

[livingwith]

I had a knee injury at work in 3/07. WC made me wait 2 months before the doctor was able to perform arthroscopic surgery. I continued to work those 2 months, with burning/seering pain in my right leg/knee. The surgeon told me that I had a pre-exisiting condition of arthritis that was aggrivated from the work injury. I was placed on restricted duty, pain meds, and PT. My right knee was in pain,everyday..even with lortabs. After 8 weeks,the doctor told me that there was nothing more he could do fo...Read the full article

[RedDeb]

I have been dealing with RSD for over 11 years; I too was hurt at work. It's a good thing that you have an attorney, trust me you will depend on him/her more than you can know. I battled with comp for 7 years before they finally figured out that I wasn't going to cave into them. They stopped checks, changed my doctors 11 times ( in 7 years), stopped treatments/Rxs. They told me I was a fake and a liar - sent me to their doctors (ones that took care of them and not the patient) who in-turn told me there was nothing wrong with me; then give me Rxs for RSD patients. I was married at the time, we lost everything: job, insurance, house, cars, and eventually us. Just be aware that it always gets worse before it gets better; it will get better. Fight to get you a doctor that believes in you; there are good ones out there. Mine were doctors 12 & 13. I've been with them since 2004, I have a spinal stimulator and I'm able to "function" - good days and bad. You'll have to learn your limitations and except them - that's just the way it is. I am currently remarried (disabilities, scars, withering body and all). Don't give up. I read a poem once that helped me; it basically said that no matter what negativity comes your way, "give it your all anyway". Goodluck!

[CDCDAV]

HI I AM A 31 Y/O FEMALE THAT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RSD IN APRIL, O8.
I HAD A 4 WHEELER ACCIDENT IN JULY O7. I HAD A TORN ACHILLES TENDON TO THE BACK OF MY RT. HEEL AND NERVE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF MY ANKLE. I FOLLOWED UP WITH A ORTHOPEDIC DR. AFTER INJURY. I WAS IN A HARD CAST FOR 4 WEEKS WHICH WAS CHANGED EVERY WEEK. WEEK 5 SOFT CAST FOR ONE WEEK I HAD STITCHES FROM THE RT SIDE OF ANKLE/HEEL TO THE LEFT SIDE OF ANKLE. STITCHES TO RT SIDE AND BACK OF HEEL WERE REMOVED AFTER SIX WEEKS STITCHES TO THE LEFT SIDE WHERE THE NERVE INJURY IS WERE REMOVED AFTER 8 WEEKS. I WAS NEVER TREATED BY A THERAPIST. ORTHO DR. HAD ME PERFORM EXERCISES TO FOOT AND HEEL AT HOME TO TRY TO STRENGTHEN TENDON. AFTER 9 WEEKS I WAS RELEASED TO GO BACK TO WORK 2 DAYS A WEEK AND PROGRESS AS TOLERATED. WHEN I FIRST BEGAN TO WALK I WAS VERY UNSTEADY AND IT HURT EVERY TIME I TOOK A STEP ON THE FOOT. I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE TIME TO REGAIN USE OF THE FOOT AND FOR THE PAIN TO GO AWAY, HERE IT IS ALMOST A YEAR LATER AND I STILL DEAL WITH BURNING STABBING PAIN IN THE FOOT SOMETIMES IN MY CALF AND THE FRONT OF THE LEG, FOOT STILL SWELLS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS PAIN IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE.I CAN'T STAND FOR ANY ONE TO TOUCH THE ARCH OF MY FOOT I LITERALLY FEELS LIKE ANT BITES AND I HAVE TO WEAR SOME TYPE OF SHOE AT ALL TIMES CAN'T WALK BARE FOOT. I TOO, HAVE BEEN PLACED ON MANY MEDS FOR THIS CONDITION WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE EX: CYMBALTA, ELAVIL, BACLOFEN, LYRICA. THE LYRICA WILL HELP CONTROL THE BURNING BUT THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE HORRIBLE.FEELS LIKE YOU ARE IN A FOG OR HANG OVER EFFECTS EVEN WHEN TAKEN AT BED TIME THE NEXT DAY I COULD HARDLY KEEP MY EYES OPEN. I WAS DX. WITH DEPRESSION IN SEPT 07 I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO BEING OFF WORK AND WITH LIMITED ABILITY AND THAT AFTER A FEW MONTHS IT WOULD GO AWAY AND I COULD COME OFF ANTIDEPRESSANT, HOW EVER IT HAS ONLY SEEMED TO GET WORSE AND MY MEDICAL DR. IS TRYING TO FIND A ANTIPRESSANT THAT IS EFFECTIVE FOR ME.I TOO HAVE HAD DIFF. GETTING THE DR TO KEEP ME ON A PAIN MED THAT IS STRONG ENOUGH TO HELP EASE THE PAIN AND AT TIMES I FEEL LIKE DR. THINKS I JUST LIKE TAKING PAIN MED. BELIEVE ME PRIOR TO ACCIDENT I TOOK NO MEDS. EXCEPT VITAMINS AND OCCASIONALLY SOMETHING FOR THE HEAD ACHE.MED. DR HAS ENCOURAGED ME TO THINK ABOUT HAVING NERVE BLOCK DONE,BUT WILL IT BE EFFECTIVE AND FOR HOW LONG????? I TOO HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING AT NIGHT IT IS 11:43P.M. HERE AND I HAVE TO GET UP AT 5:30A.M. TO GET READY FOR WORK.. ANY WAY I THINK THAT ABOUT COVERS MY SITUATION FEEL FREE TO EMAIL BACK WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY INFO THAT ME BE HELPFUL. I JUST FOUND NEUROLOGY CHANNEL LAST NIGHT.