Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

[cara1336]

Hello i am a 23 year old single mother of a 2 year old , I have been suffering with chronic pain since i was 14 (related to endometrioisis) i underwent a full hysterectomy after having my son still pain i was then diagnosed with severe Interstitial Cystis which has been a constant battle for me i am currently on fentanyl and dualid for pain including numerous other meds for my bladder and neurton for nerve pain. During my last hospitalation last month i underwent a neuro work up by DR. Swartzman in Philadelphia who explained to me i have RSD just by touchin my legs and looking at me (?). I have always had sweelin in my feet and they always burn and back and neck always hurt but my legs and arms feel very week and just ache to the point i just scream and some days i cant move. I do not have the classic signs of rsd. A couple days ago i feel and hit my back and now my legs and feet feel like they are on fire and its the worst pain i have ever felt i have gone to the er 2 days in a row. I am in so much pain right now i cant really explain everything my life is very depressin it seems like one thing after another. Dr. Swartzman wants to start Ketamine Treatments already and im so confused, do i really have rsd or does he just wanna do the ketamine to see if it helps with my horrific bladder and pelvic pain? sorry so brief just wonderin if anyone has any thoughts

[reruho]

Cara,
You have many of the classic symptoms of RSD/CRPS. Swartzman is an expert in the RSD/CRPS area and if he says you have RSD/CRPS then you probably do. It also sounds like you have your whole body affected by this monster. You must be quite severe for him to recommend the ketamine treatment. He would not recommend this lightly.
I can understand how depressing your life is with these continuous cycles of pain. I found that having a name for my pain helped me because then I knew they took me seriously and it took much of the mystery away. I wasn't a quack just seeking drugs or attention. But, I also found that so very few medical people anything about my condition.
Continue posting and keeping us aware of your journey. I will keep you and your son in my thoughts.
Reta

[formermechanic]

Ketamine is a very scarey treatment, expecially if you participate in the k coma. I have not done any ketamine treatments, but a freind of mine has. It has changed her life. Seems to work, but she has to have expensive treatments bi monthly. Her med bills are somewhere around 70,000 to 100,000.....
Keep in mind that with rsd, everyones treatment seems to be different, with different results...... I would try hyperbaric oxygen treatments first, they are painless and effective...... Google it on the net and you'll find lots of great positive information