I hope that this blog will be helpful. I am also trying to learn about RSD.
I was diagnosed with RSD November 2009. My RSD came from our local ER.
I had Back Surgery on Dec 17,2008. Three months later my Pain doctor decided that it might be helpful to get a Cortisol injection. I had them done before my surgery, so I thought why not. The injection irritated the surgery area. I was working on a show at our local Theatre. It was March 28,2009, which was a Saturday. My pain doctor does not work on Saturday, so I went to the ER. I was on a Durgestic, Prococet due to my back surgery. The ER doctors comes with a horrid arrogant attitude. He told me that I was like Anna Nicole and Heath Ledger. He was being very mean to me. I asked him to call my pain doctor. He treated me like I was a druggie. He told me that he will only give me Norflex (a muscle relaxer).
I heard him talking to the nurse about me being in there for drugs. The nurse with a bun, came in with an attitude like the ER doctor. She told me that hospital are not here for your drug addictions. Yes, I know that. She alcohol my upper side hip. She went to get the shot on the table. I asked her what is in it and what is the dosage. I always ask that because there has been many times when it was the wrong medication. The nurse became very mean. She told me that this is not a narcotic for your addiction. I was shocked. She came over and stabbed my lower thigh. She pushed it so fast. I felt like a really bad burn. It hurt so bad I almost screamed. Then she walked out of the room. I can say that the IM shot got my mind off my back spasm. It hurt so bad.
Then the ER doctor came in. He told me that he talked to my pain doctor. My pain doctor ordered an IM shot of Diludid and Phenergan. The ER doctor said that he doesn't want to see me again for this issue. He walked out. I was scared because I didn't want that nurse to give it to me.
I was relieved when a different nurse came in. She said that she was filling in for the other nurse. I was so happy because she was so nice. She gave me the IM shot really nicely on my right butt.
In the morning my R.lower thigh felt like it was on fire. It also looked like someone hit it with a baseball bat.My mom took me in to the ER. A nice ER doctor said he has never seen it before.
I went back to the ER over seven times because it kept changing. None of the ER doctors knew what to do. I was so scared because it burned and hurt so bad.
Finally, an ER doctor made an appointment to the Hospitals Wound Clinic. Why didn't they do that in the beginning.
First day at Wound Clinic. The doctor peeled my dead skin off. He told me that this was caused by the application. I could of said that LOL.
By the third week at the Wound Clinic, my wound was not getting better. They sent in a surgeon. The surgeon started digging a hole in my thigh to find the blood source. The tissue was dead, but the nerves wasn't. He couldn't find the blood source. He sent me for surgery.
June 2, 2009 I had surgery. I woke up with a Wound Vac. It was so painful. I stayed one night at the Hospital.
Three days later, I went to the Wound Clinic. I had to pull of a lot of painful tape. Then I had to pull out many pieces of foam that were stuffed in my thigh. I passed out twice and vomited many times due to the pain. I could see my bone, muscles and tendon. It was a size of a man's fists. This messed up my Summer.
I had a in home nurse that had to come twice a week. I had to go to the Wound Clinic once a week. That met I had to change the wound vac three times a week. It was so painful.
( End of August)Seven weeks of the Wound Vac. I blamed the pain and burning on the wound vac. When the vac came off I couldn't blame the pain and burning on it. The pain and burning was getting really bad. The wound clinic doctors and nurses were looking at me like I was crazy because the wound was getting smaller, but my pain and burning was getting worse.
I tried to get into to see my pain doctor, but I could not get in till four weeks. My pain and burning was getting really bad. It was even moving into my left leg. One area of my leg could be burning hot and then another part of my leg could be ice cold. I was so scared because even heavy pain meds wouldn't even work.
Beginning in October, I finally saw my pain doctor. I told him it hurt so bad I wanted to kill myself. That was a bad idea because then he thought I was depressed. I was depressed because I was hurting so bad. If I can get the pain to lessen then I would not be depressed. I would not say I was depressed I would say I was frustrated, scared, and disappointed. My mom asked him about treating me like I had RSD. I looked at my mom like what are you talking about. My pain doctor didn't think it is RSD, but he will do a Sympathetic Nerve Block. He said if it works it is RSD, if it doesn't then it isn't RSD. The Sympathetic Nerve Block, took most of my pain away and all of the burning away. My pain doctor scheduled me to see him in four weeks. I was surprised he didn't want me to see him in a week, to see if it worked or if it didn't. I went and saw a Psychiatrist. The Psychiatrist didn't feel I was depressed. He felt I was just hurting.
By five days my pain and burning was back full blast. Again, could not get into my pain doctor for four weeks. I was so mad. Why didn't he schedule me in a week to do a follow up. Back to the ER again and again because we didn't have no where else to go. I went to my primary doctor. He could not do anything due to the pain contract. The NP in my primary doctor's had my primary doctor write a pain treatment for the ER. I took the letter stating that it is ok to give me Diludid and Phenergan for four weeks. My primary doctor wrote it and the ER still would not help me. Even though they told me I need a pain contract from my primary doctor. I did that and they would not use it. I was so frustrated and scared. My primary doctor and my psychologist called my pain doctor and told him that I should be treated.
Finally the four weeks were over. He told me he was sorry. He lined me up for eight weeks of the Sympathetic Nerve Blocks. Every week I got the injections.
I ended up not being able to go to College and were not able to theatre. I was mad and still am mad. This should have not happened. If the ER nurse gave me the shot nicely then this would have not happened. Now I have deformed thigh and even worse RSD. My life had changed for ever. I have had nine surgeries List:
Gallbladder
Pectisxclaphutum IN(Chest bone caved in, so they put a bar in my chest to pop it out. I had to have it in for two 1/2 years.)
Pectisxluptum OUT
Lung surgery (removed some of my left lung, and stapled Pneumothorax)
Tonsils and Anodes
Back surgery
Sinus Surgery (Extra sinus had to be removed)
Defeated Septum (Nose surgery)
Hiatal Hernia
Gum Surgery
ALL OF THESE IN TEN YEARS. If I could I would do all these surgeries again if I could trade it for RSD.
Other Health problems:
Celiac Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
OesteoArthritis
Osteoporosis
Acid Reflux
Adrenal Insufficiency
Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia
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