Question
Hey Keven,
Got a question for you. I've got 6 or 7 independant Dxs of RSD Upper bilateral. Dropped a couch onto both wrists 4 1/2 yrs ago (over a threshold, no less!).

Have yrs and yrs off distrust for MDs, the RSD Dx doesn't help. At Pain Treatment Center, year 1, dealt with random Doc of the week. They didn't read my chart, they didn't tell me *how* the meds were supposed to help, they didn't caution me to be super careful after stellate ganglion nerve blocks. Nerve blocks were very helpful, but pain broke through after about a week (6 injections, 3 followed by falls, 2 by my own overdoing, and 1 by my now roommate sitting on the arm. D'oh!). They gave up, as did we after never seeing the same doc twice.

Then a buncha PT/OT. Always seemed to be declared "not fixable" or "not motivated". Not motivated seems to come up frequently. I'm 28. I'm much more interested in return to normal ADLs and IADLs before worrying about returning to work. Thus, "not motivated".

2 years with the most awesome orthopedist ever. Hubby keeps saying he wants to break his leg so Dr. Schrock can be his doctor, too! But Ortho really can't do pain mgmt. So off I go to Pain Management.

Pain doctor repeats over and over that she won't do Narcotics. Fine, I don't care, just make the pain stop. She says it's not RSD, just tendonitis. I'm a little unsure... She says no tinels, but I told her it zinged and tingled. She puts down in my chart no complaints of sweating AFTER I tell her the story of the Doc who was amazed by the sheer quantity of hyperhydrosis. She tells me to swim, but then puts down that I'm not interested when I tell her I can't afford the gym membership, and could she prescribe it. On and on. The office actually screwed up a muscle relaxant script really bad (4x my normal dosage) and when I called them on it, they told me to take as written. Saw her the next day, and she blamed the wrong script on me, because I don't read shorthand, but I should have noticed the difference. Well, really, first she said that was the correct amount, then recanted, and it was my fault. So I told her I called in soon as I noticed, and she said I should have known how to take it, and shouldn't have needed to call in. o, well, long story short (not at all!) I fired her, and reported her.


So the question I have for you.....

I see a new Doc (PM&R) tomorrow (the 30th). How can I tell if this guy is as big of a freak as the rest? What do I look for? Are there questions to ask? Can I treat it like an interview? Any advice you can give will be greaty appreciated.

Thanks,
Joy Mosiejczuk
(who needs to rest her hands after typing so much!)

Answer
Sorry you have had so much trouble finding someone who has a special interest in RSD...maybe you could contact Dr. Bradley Galer at Endo Pharmaceuticals..go to the website and My guess is you will find a phone number or email address that will eventually lead to him, and ask him if there are any doctors that have knowledge in treating RSD in the area or region you live in.  The key is to find one who has had experience and success (success is the key) in working with people using a multidisciplinary approach (meds, gradually progressive PT, and psychotherapy). This approach took me two years of daily hard work and commitment, but I was completely disabled before I met him and got into his three-tiered approach.  I now have a pain free physically active lifestyle..good luck!