cutup wrote:
Eileen
I was doing some checking on this, my brother had a nerve block to stop pain. I checked out 1 web site and they said this
How Is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Treated?
Since there is no cure for CRPS, the goal of treatment is to relieve painful symptoms associated with the disorder. Therapies used include psychotherapy, physical therapy, and drug treatment, such as topical analgesics, narcotics, corticosteroids, antidepressants and anti-seizure drugs.
Other treatments include:
Sympathetic nerve blocks: These blocks, which are done in a variety of ways, can provide significant pain relief for some people. One kind of block involves placing an anesthetic next to the spine to directly block the sympathetic nerves.
Surgical sympathectomy: This controversial technique destroys the nerves involved in CRPS. Some experts believe it has a favorable outcome, while others feel it makes CRPS worse. The technique should be considered only for people whose pain is dramatically but temporarily relieved by selective sympathetic blocks.
Intrathecal drug pumps: Pumps and implanted catheters are used to send pain-relieving medication into the spinal fluid.
Spinal cord stimulation: This technique, in which electrodes are placed next to the spinal cord, offers relief for many people with the condition.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Pain Management Department.
I hope things go well for you...Jean
Jean,
Thank you for researching all this. RSD/CRPS seems to be a vague kind of condition.
My doctor and I discussed all of the therapies. The nerve block would have to be injected near my spinal cord and there's a slight chance of paralysis. No thanks.
I went to a specialist re: the spinal cord stimulator. That would have to be implanted near the spinal cord. My pain mgmt doctor and I decided this would be a last resort.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia by a rheumatologist about 2 years ago, but my pain mgmt doc says that I "don't present" as a person with fibro so she's not going to treat that. Also, it could possibly screw up the workers comp case. Go figure.
Right now I'm in a waiting mode. All the documentation is in to the WC Board and I'm waiting to hear from my att'y about a permanence hearing. My doc filled out all the forms to say that I'm permanently partially disabled. What that will mean for me, I don't know. She's sticking by that even though the bone scan came back negative as to bone loss, or osteoporosis.
They do know I have the quilting business, so I've never had to hide that from them. That's why I won't go the route of SSDI-I'd have to close my doors.
This got a lot longer than I planned. I just wanted to update y'all.
eileenkny
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