CRPS RSD Help Please…?

Question by Joe R: CRPS RSD help please…?
Ok so in mid november of 2010 my foot and ankle was ran over by a 2 ton forklift at work. When I saw and orthopedic he read my x rays and told me I had no fractures just a “true crush injury”…In the next 2 months im going back and fourth to the doctor and physical therapy with not much change and frequent pain..My orthopedic then calls for an mri which revealed 4 fractures in my foot to add to the crush injury..now 2 and a half months later im diagnosed wit crps or rsd (same thing)..my question is will I be in a lifetime of pain? will i get some sort of settlement for this? im recieving pay from workers comp now but i feel between the pain and suffering and loss of quality of life i should be compensated more than what I am…i forgot to mention im 29 year old male….thank you for any help

Best answer:

Answer by Loz
Hi Joe – I’m really sorry about your injury and your CRPS diagnosis. I’m 26 and I’ve had CRPS for 12. years.

Have you been referred to a pain management specialist? CRPS requires very aggressive therapy – and the earlier this is started, the better. All the research out there suggests that the most success is gained if the CRPS is diagnosed and treated in the first six months. Treatment can come in a few different forms but the most common ones are –
* Medications: certain anti-depressants or epilepsy medications help to settle down some of the activity in the nervous system that is causing the pain. Other medications like anti-inflammatories and opioids can also be hopeful .
* Sympathetic nerve blocks: it’s thought that some of the pain is due to hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system has a lot of roles in the body, but part of that is control of blood flow to skin and muscles, which is why you get color changes, temperature changes, sweating changes, etc. Blocking the sympathetic nerves to the affected area can help to reverse those signs.
* Physiotherapy: I know you’ve done it, but it is crucial that you keep trying. You need to keep those joints and soft tissues mobilised to prevent atrophy and to keep any sensitivity under control.

There are also a few other treatments –
* Ketamine: this is actually an anaesthetic and you may have heard of it as a recreational drug, but it’s becoming more and more commonly used as a treatment for CRPS. I live in Australia, where it is routinely used, but I think it’s less common in the US. The ketamine is believed to ‘reset’ certain nerve receptors in the spinal cord, and can actually not only reduce pain for some people but actually put them into remission. I’ve had three infusions now – only one did anything and all three made me very sick, so they’re not for everyone – but maybe something else to discuss with a doctor.
* Spinal Cord Stimulation: the SCS unit works a bit like a pacemaker. It has electrodes placed over the spinal cord and sends out electrical pulses that interfere with the pain signals. I have one, and it does help – but I’m coming up for my 5th or 6th surgery on it so there is a definite downside to them.
* Intrathecal Drug Pumps: these give medication straight into the spinal fluid so that you can have a much lower dose and fewer side effects. I have a pump with baclofen (a muscle relaxant) and bupivacaine (anaesthetic). It helps a lot.

So – will you been in a lifetime of pain? I truly hope not. I can’t help much with the workers comp stuff, but if you don’t mind contacting me and giving me you email I’ll give you the address of a support group/forum where you could ask your question about settlements and there’d be a few people I’m sure who are going through the same thing and could offer some advice.

I hope that helps – and if you’ve any other questions or I can help with anything please just ask.

Answer by atvchick09
I have RSD too and there is no cure for RSD but there are treatments but everyone is different so what works for one may not help at all for another or may have bad effects on another, but there is tons of stuff to try to help the pain such as tons of medications like anti seizure meds,narcotics,ect,there are nerve blocks,there is also ketamine which right now is the most effective treatment available,but there is also tons more. With the treatments you may be able to get your pain to go down or even go into remssion but you will always have RSD and will still have flares at times and it could come back from being in remission at any time. About the compensation thing I can’t really help you there but you should be able to get something I would think!

If you have any more questions or anything feel free to email me I am happy to answer!
[email protected]

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Recovery Physical Therapist works with SCI client at Walk The Line to Spinal Cord Injury Recovery – http://walkthelinetoscirecovery.com/