CRPS

[Cervical_Fusion]

Does anyone on here know much about CRPS Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Is this different than RSD or are they the same, if not the same how do they differ?

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

No, it is the same.

But, may I now ask you why your asking this?

[Cervical_Fusion]

I believe I may have symptoms of CRPS.

[Bad Boy Bad Boy]

There are times I can say I have the symtoms also. Only, I keep just letting it go. I know others here that have it, and has to be alot worst then what I think I have on any given day.

[Cervical_Fusion]

My next Dr. visit I am going to bring it up to him and get his thoughts on it. I have been doing a lot of reading on CRPS symphtons and I do seem to be having a lot of them. About the only one that I find that I do not have is discoloration of the skin, well not any that I can see.

[UndercovrAngel]

Cervical,

Many of the signs and symptoms of RSD/CRPS also fit many other chronic pain diseases. It takes more than just having signs and symptoms to state that you have it. Check into fibromyalgia as well.

However, if your Dr knows anything about RSD, he will rule out all other possibilities before he just diagnoses RSD. You say that you have everything else but discoloration of the skin. What else are you experiencing ?? And exactly where are you experiencing it at ?? As those of us that have been given a positive diagnosis after all else has failed, know that RSD starts mainly in the extremities.

If you want to email me, or pm me, I am more than willing to help you with this.

Angel ^j^

[sparkey]

Cervical and I had talked alot about this in PM yesterday and alot of the symptoms were RSD. I just said at the next doc. appointment to mention all the symptoms and to see what the doctor thinks. There is really not much that they can do to help. It is a very painful , dibilitating disease that I would not wish on my worse enemy. I have been diagnosed with it and it took many doctors in order to do this.

They hesitated to do it because of how it is a life long thing and how there really is not one test to prove it. I have all the symptoms of it and hope that one day they can find a medication that can make a person at least comfortable with it. The pain has now moved onto my left side which is making it harder to get in the shower now and wash my hair and get dressed each day.Just like everyone else, I have good days and bad days and yesterday was very baddddddddd.

[chrischris]

Actually Cervical, RSD and CRPS are different, yet the same.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic progressive disease characterized by severe pain, swelling and changes in the skin. The International Association for the Study of Pain [5] has divided CRPS into two types based on the presence of nerve lesion following the injury.

Type I, also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), Sudeck's atrophy, Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy (RND) or Algoneurodystrophy, does not have demonstrable nerve lesions.

Type II, also known as Causalgia, has evidence of obvious nerve damage.

Many people can suffer from this very painful thing and it can strike at any age. It is very difficult for children to live with this as others cannot see what is wrong like a cast for a broken bone. Many people who are affected with CRPS sink into depression as they have nobody to vent their fears and anger to.

The cause of this syndrome is currently unknown. Precipitating factors include injury and surgery, although there are documented cases that have no documented injury to the original site.

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Cervical, I have been dx'd with CRPS Type II because the cause is known, and it is from a nerve injury during surgery.

CRPS Type I is still referred to as RSD, and does not involve the nerves.

The stages (if you believe in staging) and symptoms are pretty much the same. Type I will show negative on NCS where type II will show positive nerve damage.

CRPS/RSD is very hard to diagnose, and must be done so clinically. If you do have RSD, and I pray you don't, please make sure you get a referral to a Pain Management Anesthesiologist who has knowledge treating RSD patients. You may have to do some research. I wish I had known this from the beginning because I am just now receiving treatment that I should have received 3 years ago. I had a doctor who didn't believe in meds, blocks, or Pain Management; yet he was the one the dx'd me.

The main symptom that everyone has with CRPS/RSD is constant pain, that can't be explained. All the other symptoms come and go; and get worse and worse as time goes on. That is why it is so important to get the right doctor. Everyone is different and it takes time to get the pain under control with the right meds, and other modalities.

I just had my second Nerve Block yesterday, and am painfree except for my hand. I use a Tens unit daily for additional pain relief. The first block lasted 4 days, and with each subsequent block they should last longer. If they don't then you might be referred for a trial Spinal Cord Stimulator.

That's about all I know, from personal experience.

Take care!

[sparkey]

HI Chris,

I have CRPS as mine shows positive nerve damage. I went to my new pain management doctor and the first thing he wanted to do was take me off a medication I had been on for a year for pain that he did not like me on. He did not change it for now but did order a MRI hopeing that it was not CRPS and it was a big disc that may be causing all this nerve problems etc. I am now waiting on results.

I was wondering if there was any medication that you found worked fro your pain relief as I would be curious to have this new doctor try them on me. He just put me on the topamax and the only thing I noticed after a few days is the tingling in the fingers and toes really really bad. I am only on 100mg's a day and he wanted to boost them up in a few weeks when I see him. I found nothing to relieve any pain what so ever, but did find it helps curb my appetite and hopefully it makes me lose weight. That alone would make me want to stick with this drug even though with the insurance it costs me 40.00.

I do have a Tens unit that I use many many times a day that I got from PT. I absolutly love it and have gone through so many pads and rechargeable batteries as I sit here for hours on end using it on my neck/shoulder and arm/hand. It does take the pain away from my mind. It works better than any of the medication but right now I am not ready to have a stimulator put in. Just the thought of a little box like a pace maker implanted in me creeps me out. I would rather have it external to remove it when I would like to . I had the blocks done which one of them only gave me 4 hours of relief and the second gave me none. So those were stopped. If there is anything that you feel has helped you, I would be interested in hearing as since I have been laid off March 2nd. I cannot seem to leave my house for 3 days at a time due to the pain/depression from the pain. It is so terrible to live like this.

[chrischris]

Hi Sparkey,
I've tried many medications until I found a regimen that works. I did this with the help of my PTP, who also has RSD. He is the one who referred me to my current Pain Management doctor; after 2 denials from WC. My NCM said she has never had anyone with RSD be denied Pain Management, and if it wasn't for her intervention, I doubt I would be getting the RSD treatments even now.

So with that said, what I am taking now for the RSD/Cervical Radiculopathy/Depression is:

200 Mg. Celebrex
20 Mg. Prilosec (prescription) to tolerate all the meds
225 Mg. Effexor XR
300 Mg. Lyrica
1.0 Mg. Klonopin

Flexeril 10 as needed for spasms
Norco 10 as needed for pain (I try not to take on a regular basis; maybe average 1-2 per day; but sometimes none!)

Non W/C: 200 Mg. CoQ10
20 Mg. Lipitor
Primrose (Omega 6)
Vitamin C
81 Bayer Aspirin

Tens Unit
Walking at least 1 mile per day
Hand desenitation exercises at least 1 hr. per day (while you are laying in bed before you get up, run you hand thru a tupperware bowl full of things like cheerios. You can even eat your exercise food!
Weekly self-paid therapeudic massage (which I have to give up as it is too expensive and WC won't pay for this)
Keeping as busy as possible, while staying within my restrictions: I work 6 hrs. per day on a reduced day, alternate position.
Lots of hot showers and baths. (I am in process of buying a spa for therapy)
Rest when tired, which is often.
I take a long nap in the afternoon with classical music.
Hand and arm exercises with low weight bell bars, when I can tolerate it.

Emotionally, I am still a basket case and can't talk about what happened to me at work without crying. Oh yeah, I also see a psychologist every 7-10 days for psycho-therapy. Everyone with chronic pain should at least try counseling. This is the first experience I have had with counseling, and thanks to 1171, he pushed me into it.

I also have blood work done by my Primary Care doctor every 3 months to make sure my liver/kidney function remains normal with all these medications. This is something W/C won't pay for; but should. They often prescribe meds over treatment.

All on left side; I've had carpal tunnel surgery, ACDF C5-7, Achilles Tendon Rupture Repair, Epidural Spinal Injections (didn't work), Currenly going thru Stellate Ganglion Blocks which are helping. Lots of Physical Therapy. California has a 24 visit cap, but they have been very kind to continue way beyond that limit in my case. I am currently doing home therapy now.

I can't even tell you how many doctors I have been to. I am on my 3rd Primary Treating Dotor as the first two "dropped" me as my case/injuries were too "complex". What I really needed was a "gatekeeper" to keep track of everything, make reports to WC, and maintain all my medications. My Pain Management Doctor doesn't issue pain meds; but leaves that up to PTP. I like it that way so I only receive meds from one source.

Anything else you have questions on, don't hesitate to ask. I love to help fellow I/W's in any way I can.



Take care,
ChrisChris