I'm afraid I don't know much about worker's comp, hun. But if you've just started the neurontin, the side effects should get better. It helped me for years.

I'm so sorry for everything ur goin thru...it sounds awful. I can't work due to my RSD and other disabilities and am on social security disability. I didn't get hurt at work, and just feel helpless that I can't help with some info for you. Have you tried searching the net for info on the worker's comp thing? When I go to the doc, I put together an extremely detailed list of my symptoms...frequency, duration, severity, location, type of pain...and also what my days look like...what I can't do that others must do for me. I think she has a pretty good idea what's up with me...maybe this would help ur doc get a better idea of what you can do? or ask for a functional ability evaluation? it's thru PT and evaluates what you can and cannot physically do and is used a great deal in worker's comp cases as well as for diagnosis/treatment. Sure hope you find some success, hun. Hang in there and good luck!

I have RSD in my right hand. Fortunately for me it went into remission with nerve blocks. How are you expected to type all day, 40 hrs a week with one hand? Forget about the chance of spread of RSD - it will never fly. But it is likely that you will certainly cause some kind of damage to your other hand like carpal tunnel syndrome or worse. And really, how productive do they expect you to be? Do they realize that there is a particluar way to type and that it is ergonomically correct for a reason? You obviously won't be able to use the keyboard properly the way it was meant to be used and will definitely cause harm to your body. Any physical therapist or occupational therapist should be able to testify to that. If you are forced to work in the meantime make sure you log your pain level EVERY DAY becaue I am sure it starts to hurt very soon after you begin typing with just one hand. It probably starts to affect you shoulders, neck, and back too... RIGHT????? Make sure you write that in your log every day! Also, don't go out of your way to be too productive. Pace yourself. If you are hurting, you can't move too quickly now can you? And they can't expect you to take on a totally different job to avoid workers comp. If you can't do your exact job - then it's worker's comp. Sounds to me like they are modifying your job in a way that is not safe. I would get the opinion of a physical therapist and occupational therapist. I'm sure they would think typing with one hand 40 hrs a week is a bad idea. Just my thought.

Thank you both for your answers, it helps a lot! Do either of you know what a job anaylis is? Seems my doctor has ordered one.

Sorry - I have no idea. And I work in human resources.

I don't know what it is either...a guess? maybe info on what ur job requires so the doc can make a judgement on whether you can do it?

Hi, I have RSD in the right and left and it is spreading and does spread. They have a web site that talks about all of the symptoms , medications how to get help,workers comp, a lawyer, etc. I believe a job analysis is to see what you can or can't do. but your lawyer should tell you what it is. here is the web sites they have been very helpful for me. www.rsdhope.org www.rsdsa.org www.americanpainfoundation.org the web sites do talk about mirror transfer from one side to the other and also how it can spread if not treated in a timely manner. Good-luck on your journey to get the medical care you need and don't give up the fight this is a long hard battle!!! and all of us with rsd hope for a cure!!!!!!

the american pain foundation site helps with how to talk to your doctor and the Federal Social Security recogonizes RSD/CRPS as a disability!!!! Take your time looking at the web sites info especially rsdsa site it tells a lot on the situation your in on your lawyer. Take care oh I also wanted to tell you your symptoms are a part of crps maybe not so much side effects from neurontin. I take 1800mg a day 2-3xday Idon't believe I would be here without it.of course I take other meds also to help with the pain. I'm like you, but I no longer function very well the disorder is debilitating me and they didn't protect me with a certain kind of block before my shoulder surgery so now the whole left side is burning (one of the main symptoms of rsd) lost muscle and bone and possible spreading vicerally. lots of problems have risen I have been dealing with lawyers and the comp system since 2004 I am really tired but keep hanging in there so you do the same ,take-care.

Oh - I am sorry Nanto 5, I didn't mean to suggest that the spread of RSD doesn't exist. Of course it does. I am sorry if I suggested in any way that I didn't take it serioulsy - she should definitely be prepared with that information, I just don't think it will work as a defense because they will interpret it as a "poosibility" of spread and there is so much information out there that makes the topic easily debatable. I just wanted to give her another suggestion to use as a workers comp defense - like the inappropriate request for her to continue to do the same job with just one hand with an occupational therapy defense. RSD is listed as a disability but the spread of RSD could be a grey area if you are dealing with lawyers.

I hope I didn't sound insesnitive when I just brushed it off like that. I should have given reason for my opinion. I'm glad you posted. You definitely gave mountainmom more information to work with and think about. I didn't realize how obnoxious my answer sounded - I was just really worked up and kind of angry at her situation. I guess I just rambled on without really thinking.

Anyway - I hope eveyone's insight is useful to you mountainmom!!!!!

Just thought I would check back in a let you all know what happened at the doctor's visit on the 6th- I prepared the detailed symptom/effect list for my doctor out of the pain journal that I keep for the days inbetween our last visit. As the muscle contrations spasms etc are getting quite bad it was kind of long, 7 double spaced pages to make it easier to read...anyway on the work issue I got the doctor's notes before the visit and they didn't say much at all, no rsd just periheal neuropathy (which I was diagnosed with in a nerve condution study last JULY 2008) and the wrist instability. Nothing about what I am currently experiencing except for the painful touch part. Anyway- he was not happy that I had gotten his notes, and when we brought up the work thing and if I was a neutural party I wouldn't of thought there was much wrong with me. He stated that he "contraticted" himself on the work issue, that of course there was no way for me to work like this, and he would take care of it for me. He ask me about my emotional and I said it's up and down about what you would expect then he picked up the symptoms I had turned in to him and said it was " NOT NORMAL BEHAVIOR AND YOU ARE LETTING THIS TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE" Well, duh it's taking over my life what can you do without hands? Every move I make HURTS, and hurts badly. It has effected everything in my life, I used to be extremely active horseback riding, off roading with my family in our 4 wheel drive, going to our cabin in Eastern washington, and in general always on the go. Now my husband talks about selling the camper (which I love) because it's one of the few things we have left paid for the will bring enough money to last a few months if disabilty payment end, and in general tells me to accept I will never work again and we may have some super tough times financially coming but we will survive. He's right but it panicks me to give up my complete life from before the fall- however the horse is gone, couldn't care for him, and I can't stand a 30 minute trip in the car on a paved road to go to the doctors without being in 10+ pain, which makes me shake like crazy all over in the doctor's office, and he notices but didn't put it down before last visit in his notes! He also made the Official diagnosis of RSD on the paperwork, instead of just telling me and no one else ( on the paperwork for SAIF(worker's comp) he'd listed Neuropathic pain disorder could be the cause for my current symptoms...and since he was so upset with the last visit he is referring me to yet another doctor, a physical medicine/rehabilitation doctor. Sigh, I also have a appoint for a panel of 2 doctors for saif because they want to discontinue treatment and close my case. I have to prove the current symptoms are directly related to my fall in October 2007. Sorry about the long post again, but this is so fustrating for me all around! I talk everything over with my husband, and he has been wonderful, but sometimes I hold back because I know he is struggling just as much with the "new" me. The whole family is really missing going places, so I have agreed to go somewhere with them on Saturday, will probably take me 2 weeks or more to recover but will be worth it to see smiles on their faces again.

I have CRPS, aka RSD and mine is workers comp related. I was hurt last year at work and cracked my cartilage which then grew a huge cyst and messed up my nerve. Had surgery to remove it and now I have CRPS. Although workers comp did cover me for a year now they are trying to get out of everything. I was diagnosed just last month and this month they are stopping all treatment and workers comp pay. I do have a lawyer who is fighting for me. I think a lot of it depends on what state you live in. As for me...I am broke, can't work and have no treatment to stop the pain. It is a waiting game that F__ing sucks. Contact me directly if you have any questions. (sabiemc@aol.com)

I am also on workers comp and going through a lot of trouble with them and my attorney has just filed a motion for a trial date. I guess the problem is, is that RSD is very hard to prove legally and the spreading of RSD is even harder to prove, for me workers comp has denied everything so my rsd has spread from my right hand to a full body rsd and I can't work either and my doctor signed the paperwork so I can get handicapped placard for my car. A lot of thoughts went through me also at first and some times still do, I can't get to sleep at night because I can't find a comfortable position and I also had to stop working but I am getting unemployment insurance and I have applied for SSD and SSI we just got the paperwork for us to fill out and I had the interview almost 2 months so we'll see what happens there. Driving in a car causes me flare up,s the weather does big time and being in Chicago here isn't a thrill :)

Thank you all for your imput- I find myself looking forward to reading new posts and it really helps to know I am not the only person going through a nightmare with the worker's compensation/ RSD survival thing.

oh- here's an update on my situation, sorry for the long post but I don't know how to shorten it, it's been a long complicated mess- my claim is still open and I am still receiving temp. total disability benefits. My attorney has been a busy boy talking to my doctors- the original diagnosis from urgent care when I first fell in Oct/2007 was left wrist sprain, right ankle sprain, left knee abrasion. The right ankle sprain, left knee abrasion healed no problem. Just my left wrist was the problem getting to heal.Up until a few weeks ago, that has been the basis of my claim and allowed treatment for. To make a huge long story as short as I know how(not very short!)- I have seen 8 doctors now in two different states about the left wrist,both for and against my case, and had one surgery in Nov/2008 when it was clear that my body would not heal it with conservative care. From time of fall to time of surgery I was still working full time on modified duty but having a huge difficulty doing so. One of these doctors I saw was the top specialist in the northwest on my type of wrist condition (instabilty of the DRUJ joint in the left wrist). I find myself wanting to tell my story so I guess I will start journalling- having this injury and trying to deal with developing RSD has destroyed all that I had going for me, and now I am struggling to rebuild my life. I basicly tried to continue as buisness as usual when I got hurt and was sure everything would heal and go away. Kind of like burying your head in the sand type thing. Anyway, recently my attorney added the following diagnosis from my orthopedic surgeon after he did the surgery- left wrist dorsal capsular tear (nice way of saying the ulnar bone is unstable in my arm, and the supporting ligaments are torn badly and may not ever repair themselves) partial tear of the radial side of the TFCC( which he tryed to fix but it made the problem worse, one of the risks of repair when repaired so late from the orginal injury) synovitis of the extensor tendons( fluid filling the tendon areas on the back of my hand/ wrist where the ulnar/radial bones meet)- usually a reumitoid athritis(sp?) problem (all other possible causes like diabetes, RA, cancer, vitimin b def, etc were ruled out in July 2008 after NCS)- but in this case probably from having rsd- and the idiot did a partial syndovectomy where he removed the fluid and stripped the tendons and surounding inflamed tissue from around the inflamed tendons and RETRACTED the ulnar nerve out of my wrist! so he could do it) and ulnar nerve neuritis at the cubital tunnel. During surgery (which I was awake for) the assistant kept making comments like- My god she's been like this for a year?, we can't connect it there, the tissue is gone, etc until my surgeon quietly talked with him and the comments suddenly stopped and the whispered from there on out so I couldn't hear. Now I had a nerve conduction study done in July 2008 which ruled out the ulnar nerve neuritis- it may have been that to begin with right after I fell but by then had spread into a nerve condition in both of my arm and was diagnosised as periheal (sp?) neuropathy in both arms at that time. I was whole arm splinted for months, and still am supposed to wear a forearm-down brace due to the wrist issue and first reported the burning pain in feb 2008 when the full splint came off the first time but my doctor told me just to get used to it, he knew I had nerve damage but had to get the mechanical issues stabilized before dealing with the nerve issues. I no longer can wear the brace because of break through burning unless the bone is really moving around- it's a catch 22 on the wrist brace thing- it moves more without the brace, burns bad with the brace sometimes lidocaine patches help sometime not.....Anyway- wow sorry I am really trying not to get into detail but it is very hard with all that has happened not to! I learned about RSD and was diagnosised with it 3+ months after surgery when I changed doctors. My attorney has now added RSD to the left wrist from talking with my current doctor. We are fighting to get a consultation with a physiatrist(physical medicine/rehabilitation doctor) to back up the RSD claim, which saif has declined to allow because it is not part of the accepted conditions, and a few days ago I had to see two doctors for saif, a neurologist and a orthopedic surgeon, for the need of continuing treatment on my case. That was a bizarre exam, and I have no way of knowing how it will turn out. However, the neurologist used a skin thermometer on my arms and got the same temp both sides, I do not know if the temp of 32 c on hands and 35 c on biceps is a good or bad temp reading, but am curious about it. The doctors for the IME exam seemed agitated that I have seen so many doctors, and kept mentioning two of them like they were impressed I had been able to see them on worker's comp. Thing was there- at the time I saw them saif was still appealing the claim and my private insurance helped arrange it- saif did not accept my claim, even after two court orders to do so, until right before surgery. My care was somewhat easier to get- but not much better on private insurance. Anyway- my doctor says it doesn't matter if I have RSD in my right hand as far as conditions for my claim, that having it in my left wrist is enough to prove why I can't work anymore. He learned his lesson and has continued to decline the modified job offers saif sends to him every 3 to 4 weeks, they have had two seperate doctors go over my case and make suggestions on how to get me back to work- using my right hand only to type. The activity increases on my case right now, and I am having some kind of doctor's appointment every week. I am so tired of all of this- and just want to figure out how to get the pain levels DOWN and go on with my life without attorneys, strange doctors, and weekly doctor visits. I truely feel like I am a criminal or something for being hurt, and like anything I say or do could be used against me in a court of law, and probably will be. I will let you all know how the rsd claim goes on whether they accept it or deny it.(due to history I am expecting the deny it part)Every doctor I see gets nervous about the screw ups on my case,the fact that I got an attorney immediately after the first denial from saif ( 10 days after I fell) the cover ups by the doctors because they don't want to be responsible for what's happened, and extremely nervous about where I work-for the judicial system of the state in a higher court. I hate the horrible care they have given, how they try to send me on after reviewing my case to yet another specialist, and the basic fact that I got care too late in the beginning to have a good outcome for my situation. Saif has a difficult time finding doctors to even take my case, several doctors have outright declined to take me after reviewing the case to both me for care and Saif for a consultation, and now I have to travel even farther to get someone to help back up the rsd claim. I had to basicly beg the doctor I am seeing to take me, and have found out he is not the best to deal with and doesn't know how to type so his notes suck...The specialist I am seeing on Friday of next week is over 80 miles away which sucks because the vibration in a car about incapcitates me of any reasonable thought or being able to move at all, but I am hoping she knows how to type and put thoughts down in order of events in an essay to help prove my case. Here it is the burden of the injured to prove that they had a injury, and to prove any disabilty, basicly from what I have seen the best well written documention is likely to win. And all I really wanted was to get well and for all of this to go away and go back to my job and life without pain!

Thanks for listening- as you probably can tell this took me awhile to type but atleast I am feeling better today and can face one handed typing- I think the bacfolen I just started on is helping a lot in that area.

God bless and gentle hugs to all!

Stay strong :)

Dear mountainmon,

Unfortunately, many, many doctors know nothing or very little about RSD. Some still haven't even heard of it. That blows my mind! Let me tell you that RSD can spread, and it often does. Any doctor who says it can't is way behind the times. Let me tell you that your pain can be objectively evaluated. A doctor in Texas, who himself had RSD and put himself into remission with his own treatment for it, developed objective tests to determine if you have RSD and how bad your pain is. He cannot tell you on a scale of 1 to 10 what it is, but he can certainly tell you if your pain is mild or intense. How? First, he tests your nerve conduction by attaching electrodes to your toes. Each toe is attached to a separate electrode. He sends an electrical signal from one big toe to the other big toe, and then, he does the same with the second toe, and on down the line, until he has tested all your toes. What you feel is a tingling sensation. The higher the intensity of the electrical signal required before you feel the tingling, the less nerve conduction you have, and the higher your pain level. If you cannot tolerate the electrodes at all, you have the most extreme form of pain. Then, he measures the skin temperature of both thumbs and both big toes. They should be within a certain temperature range, just as the body should be. If they are out of the normal range and are more than one degree off from each other, then you have a pain problem. Next, he has you stand on thermal pads that register the circulation in the feet. Poor circulation in the feet shows you have a problem. Finally, he x-rays the feet, looking for subchondral cysts. These cysts are the result of RSD and related conditions. If they exist in the feet, they exist in other parts of the body. These four tests do not lie. However, you may have trouble convincing other doctors that this doctor knows what he's doing because he is not using main-stream medical testing and treatments. Although his treatment for RSD, which is electro-magnetic stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, is based on proven therapies, the machine he designed based on these proven therapies is unique. Therapists can buy the machine, but they have access to only a few basic protocols, as the treatments are called. He has refined and improved his treatment system far beyond what any of them can provide.Therapists can sometimes use the machine to get good results with RSD patients. When they can't, the only option is to go directly to this doctor. He has been putting RSD into remission since the early 1990's. I know. He has treated me, and I know many of his patients. He has an extremely high success rate. Why haven't you heard of him? Because he is one lone, brilliant doctor whose approach seems so different, that unless a person in pain is successfully treated by him, it is hard to believe he can do what he does every day and has been doing for years. If he could get funding for large-scale clincal studies, he would blow the top off the RSD treatment world. He has conducted a couple of small studies, but only his patients, who come for all over the US and from other countries after they learn about him, know the truth about what he can do with RSD.
If you want more information about him, you can go to his website at paindefeat.com. From there you can link to patient testimonials on YouTube. He also treats other conditions related to RSD, so you will find quite of list of ailments. You can also read for free the first part of his book, PAIN BANISHMENT, on Google Book Search, to learn how he got started. The full book is on Amazon.
I wish this book would be the ammunition you need, but I am afraid that even the info in this book will not convince those who wish to block your claims for disability. I hope you can find a doctor who is open minded enough to pursue info on your behalf about this treatment. If you go to Google Book Search, be sure to read the preface in the book. It is by a doctor extolling the virtues of the RSD doctor, whose name is Dr. Donald Rhodes. Chapters Two and Four also have letters from doctors praising Dr. Rhodes.

My best to you. I understand your pain. I've been there. I've been successfully treated. Thousands of others have also been successfully treated by Dr. Rhodes. This treatment should be available to everyone. It's that good.