I have been told I have RSD and deal with a pain score of 7-8 --- 24/7

Thank You for the kind responses ... My history of my injury goes back to 1998 with a skiing injury. Since then I have had many doctors treat me, currently I am no being treated by my pain management doctor.

 

I have a great understanding on CRPS and I am now learning more about fibromyalgia to understand it better.

 

I have been through many forms of pain therapy my current meds are Lyrica, Cymbalta, Methidone, Vicodine, Flexeral ... I also have a spinal cord stimulator and receive sympathetic blocks every few months.

 

I am thinking about having my doctor run some blood work for a full review. I want to make sure everything is good.

 

Is there any blood test that they can do to identify or rule out other things?

 

 

I live with a pain level of 8-9 every day now and it keeps getting worse, including my involuntary tremors and when the pain gets really bad I start to dose off.

I am 36 and it gets hard to deal with sometimes since I have 2 young children that need me to do simple things like play catch and ride a bike.

 

I fish professionally and that seems to keep my mind in another reality as well I am a internet marketing specialist ... When I am on the computer I am not thinking about the pain and it keeps me focused.

 

 

I too suffered an injury. Last year my ulnar nerve was severed, an artery, and 3 tendons. I can't get any relief plus every doctor i've been to treats me like im a junkie. The only thing im on now is tramadol. Thats is the strongest anyone will prescribe. I have no history of substance abuse so it is very hurtful that a few bad eggs have caused paranoia on all these doctors. I cant so much as get lyrica. Any suggestions?

First let me say that I truly sympathize with you.

I also suffer with crps which came after an injury to my right arm.

Before that I had suffered with Fibro neck problems and migraines.

I have found that those that suffer with Fibro have difficulties with many meds.

We usually will experience those side effects that are listed last and in the smallest print meaning that they are the least experienced (but not by us).

Also, many meds that are supposed to help alleviate the pain can add to it.

Some meds made my aches worse, some my emotions were worse which then made it more difficult to deal with the pain, some (cymbalta) sent my bp up the chart (it had always been low before) and my body temp fluctuating insanely and caused anxiety attacks.  So sometimes these meds are adding to the problems without us realizing it.

So be careful and pay attention to your body.

One more thing and I really hesitate to say it but .... you will probably never reach a point of no pain .... the person you once were you no longer are ... it is important to accept that and look at your life and how to do things with new eyes.  I's not easy but it is more productive.  When we try to continue to do things as we once did .. it adds to the pain, frustration and depression.  But if you find a way to do something that once made you happy even if it means you have to do it differently you can still smile.  (as you see with the fishing).  I know that having children makes it much more difficult.  It is important that you get rid of the feelings of guilt because you can't be there for them the way you want.  Again, you have to change your view and so does your family ... try different ways to gain the closeness ... because that is what's important ... if you want to play catch ... don't expect to do it the way nor for the length of time that you did before ... remember if you push it you'll be laid up for weeks... your children will accept shorter times because what they want most is sharing smile together and feeling close to you.

Concentrate on what is important and accept that you are a different person now.

Hopefully in time you will find a combination of treatments that work and you will experience a pain free life.  In the mean time you will have built happy memories with the adjustments.

Most important of all --- listen to your body ... no one knows it as well as you ...

the doctors try but really are just guessing.

good luck and my prayers are with you

Blood tests can help but are not conclusive. Have they done an ESR and/or CRP? These two measure the amount of inflammation you have in your body. Only problem is this...they don't say where in the body the inflammation exsists.