Thanks to a member here, I've found a good CP doc who is a Godsend after my doctor of 14 years dying. The 1st doc I saw here recommended me to a suboxone clinic (my old posts explained all that) and I was getting ready to go into the hospital for a week this summer to detox me from morphine and diazepam and put me on suboxone. I had heard from RSD patients that it didn't work well, and while I know suboxone works for some other people, I did my research and knew it wasn't for ME. Mostly b/c I couldn't take the muscle relaxants that save my life when my legs start to cramp up.

Basically, the 1st doc I saw here didn't want to deal with me. He saw how bad the RSD was and that I'd been on same dose for 14 years with no problems, no need to increase, etc., and he didn't know what to do with me. So, on to the suboxone clinic b/c he couldn't "fix" me. There, I learned that the muscle relaxants wouldn't be allowed with the sub. That was my 1st red flag. Anyone with RSD in the foot/leg knows that the RSD pain is often joined by aches and strains, muscle cramps so bad that one cannot share a bed for fear of getting kicked out! And I have back problems, and the MR help that out, too.

So after speaking to my new doctor, I discovered that there are many options for me! The PA at the sub clinic told me that NO ONE would treat me b/c my doctor had died and we only had some of my records, (most of which they didn't bother reading.) And I had believed her. So imagine my surprise when this new doctor, after carefully reading the pages he had AND my pharmacy records, told me that the morphine had to be given in different doses, but by no means was this a problem. And IF the new doses didn't work, there are other drugs. He named a few and I've heard of them, but I don't expect to need them. I can tolerate a little extra pain if I have to.

So on Saturday morning, I will start my new meds. My hubby will be here to watch our son, just in case. I'll be switching from MSContin 60mg 3 times a day, with 2 tabs of 30mg MSIR 30 2-3 times a day to 100 mg MScontin and just 3 MSIR a day. It comes out to a little less morphine than I am used to, but I didn't take the MSIR as often as I could have so I think it'll be okay. Famous last words, right? But I get to keep my muscle relaxants, and that's important. Especially with upper and lower back problems in addition to those awful leg cramps and spasms.

I travel for work so I have a few weeks off to get used to this new regime. But I leave at the end of June for NYC and then on to Scotland, so am hoping it works well and I have very few problems. My RSD is not as bad in the summer as it is in winter, so I'm optimistic. Of course, last year when I was in the UK a volcano erupted in Iceland and I was stuck over there! And now a new volcano has erupted, causing some problems with travel. But I'm hoping it'll all be done by the end of June.

The bottom line is that I kept my job, thanks to my new doctor. And thanks to my new friend here who told me about him. I also spoke to a pain therapist for the 1st time. This doctor thinks they can help me with my needle phobia. Not sure I can deal with that right NOW, but maybe in the future. Just talking about it made me sick to my stomach. And I KNOW it is silly and that people have needles every day and live with it. I just can't even LOOK at them on tv during Grey's Anatomy or Private Practice. I can't THINK about them. But it's thought that acupuncture might work for RSD! And then I think, if it is a cure, I MUST get over my fear. But it's not a cure. Still, the therapist said maybe one day I could be in a room with a needle and not freak out. Maybe it would work? I told them that if I was ever faced with needing a needle, I would think about the therapy. But I hope to live another 50 odd years w/o needing to see or God forbid, need a shot/give blood, etc. We'll see on that one.

For now, I get to keep my job, my hubby doesn't have to take a week off to watch the baby while I go into a hospital for the sub treatment, and I still get to treat my pain. I can't imagine giving up my life to that pain. When I was 1st diagnosed, I had no husband, no child, and had to quit my job. Now I'm working, raising my son, and living an active life.

Thanks to everyone here who encouraged me, helped me, and lifted me up. It may be a long weekend but I will be thanking God that I am able to live through it, and thanking you all for giving me a place to vent, make friends, and know I'm NOT the only one. God Bless you all.