Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Support Group
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS), also known as complex regional pain syndrome, is a chronic condition characterized by severe pain following injury to bone and soft tissue. The most common symptom is burning pain. The patient may also experience muscle spasms, local swelling, increased sweating, softening of bones, joint tenderness or stiffness, restricted or...
I need help from you all please, I was recently diagnosised with RSD in my Left arm/ Right arm. This has not been accepted by Worker's Compensation as of yet, my attorney has a appointment with my doctor on the 13th to get clear information before filling for the request of acceptance. He's worried about the right hand claim and say's the transferance of symptoms to other extremities is controversial in the legal arena and hard to prove. Here's my problem, where I worked before falling in October 2007 was a court and I typed 8 hours, 54 words per minute- every day Full time. My employer and their insurance SAIF, is offering me light duty back at the court typing all day 40 hours a week one handed with my right hand. I can not do this, the pain in my right hand, muscle cramping, pin's and needles and joint stiffness make it impossible for me to deal with. I have already lost most use of my left arm, I am unable to control the fingers to lift or hold things, let alone type. Just typing this is exhausting and difficult, taking me a hugh effort with lots of rest breaks, and I have lost it twice from hitting the wrong keys and had to start over. If I decline the offer my so helpful doctor agreed to without even telling me I will loose my temporary disablity benefits. This will cause a huge financial hardship for my family and I just can't do it, I would rather be in pain than cause any more difficulty for my family, dealing with me in pain has been hardship enough for them. In Oregon worker's compensation does not recognize pain as it can not be measured or verified. Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do to prove the disablity? I no longer trust my attorney or my doctor. I have already fired one doctor because he refused to look into the nerve pain and the problems I was experiencing with my right hand. My new doctor took all of 5 minutes reviewing my history and examining me before diagnosising RSD. Upon researching it I had to agree it was dead on for the symptoms I was experiencing along with the mechanical issues I have with my left arm and had been for quite some time, even before surgery which made it 300 times worse! Since surgery in November 2008 I have been unable to return to work even on Light duty because everything at my work involves a computer and typing. Emotionally I am out of strength to deal with this. My first thought was I should just end this whole ordeal, permanently before my right hand gets worse and I loose that option. I have calmed my mind and found the strenth to deny that as an option, but still do not know what to do. Recently My doctor put my on 900 mg of neurontin a day and ask me to live with the side effects to see if it would help with the pain after a trial period. I am experienceing loss of concentration, loss of balance in walking, double vision, blurred vision, horrible headaches ( I had this before neurontin but find the intensity of them is getting worse, not sure it is the medincine, or just getting worse period) I have flair ups just riding in a car, the vibration/bumping sends the pain beyond what I can handle, so I no longer go anywhere unless I have too, mostly just stay home. I don't trust myself to drive much, it is dangerous for me and for anyone else on the road. What can I do? I feel so helpless and like right now life is hopeless... This has been the worse thing to deal with ever for me, and knowing there is no cure just makes me think about the quality of my life vs how long I might live like this or worse... Sorry about this long post but I just needed to get this out, even if it does hurt to just type it...I need help dealing with the worker's compensation system in Oregon, dealing with my doctor releasing me with out talking to me and in general help in coping with all this, how do you do it? some of you work, how do you do it? Do you have RSD in your hands and work? What do you do for work? I have always worked typing and now am at a loss what I can do for gainful employment, but looks like I need to find a job if I can't do the work they are offering, what kind of job is out there for someone who can't type much or do physical labor? Please Please talk to me about how you do this....I need advice. I see my doctor again on Monday April 6th and need to be prepared to talk to him about all this in a helpful way (right now I just want to rant and rave at him or worse which I know is not helpful at all!)
got a letter today-stating that saif will continue to treat for a wrist sprain but all the rest is denied as "The condition(s) you claim is/are not compensably related to your work injury or there is no evidence that the conditions exist."
So here we go with a round of more court time- who knows what will happen next. I'm just worried about getting treatment-the rest will work it's self out one way or another.
wishing everyone gentle hugs and a good day!
Also copied from RSDHope
NATIONAL STUDY RESULTS
According to a national study on 809 RSDS Patients, it was found that RSD spreads in 75% of cases; with only 8% of these cases being to full body or systemic (thankfully). Most spreading involves for instance, wrist to hand, hand to shoulder, in some cases to opposite limbs and in rarer cases to eyes, ears, etc.
RSDS can spread in any stage and you can have symptoms from more than one stage at one time.
The Study also yielded interesting results concerning different types of treatments such as SCS units, pumps, sympathectomies, etc., as well as information on the percentages of patients with RSD in various parts of their bodies.
Melissa
Melissa