Healthcommunities.com, Doctors Helping People Online for Over 10 years Healthcommunities.com
Home Search SiteMap Contact Us Forum Store Physician Board

Living with RSD

This section is a place to share stories about Living with RSD

Below are entries of those who have already shared their stories. We hope that you find their experiences helpful to your own situation.

You may also Help others by sharing your story.

To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download
Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar.


DISCRIMINATORY PAIN MANAGMENT


by: Sabrina on Fri, Mar 07 2008

I have had CRPS for 20yrs/5mths/8days. I spent 17 of those years undiagnosed. An ankle injury/lymph node removal is responsible for my CRPS. Since diagnosis in 2004, it has been a true struggle to find the right care.

I have become well eduated and active with the CRPS community and there are many ethical issues involving pain mgt, however, the biggest concern/complaint is discriminatory care. I have turned a corner with my treatment and it is as good as it is going to get. I keep my depression under control with positive thinking and prayer. Years of anti-depressants were not working. I still have issues with my “complete autonomic failure”, but, I am making progress.

I applied to 5 pain clinics in my local area and were denied treatment in all cases. Notice I said “applied”. I was not given the courtesy of an “initial visit”, instead, I was treated as if I had the “plague”. I have to mail/fax in years worth of documents/pharmacy records, etc. After waiting weeks, denial. Is this the way the would have treated me if I had cancer or ms or sickle cell. Some disease that is known and that insurance companies pay for?

The main issue surrounding pain mgt is the “prescription drug abuse”. This is so wrong. If you really suffer from CRPS pain, the the medicine alone has little to no effect on the pain anyway. I am afraid for my life. Without my injections/my bodily functions go haywire.

I travel over 150 miles every 6-8 weeks for 2-3 days of care. Financially, it is draining me, as I am unable to sustain employment. The local pain clinics advertise hope, they encourage you to come to them and then they pick and choose who the will see.

What happens if I cannot travel 150 miles to get my medicine, I am in need of a back up. This is unacceptable. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone know if this is lawful? Peace for Pain

Comment on this

Comments
  1. Fri, Apr 04 2008
    Savagemama, you are an amazing person! I applaud you. Sometimes I can't even see through the 'curtain-of-pain' to decide if I can care enough to try...Read
  2. Thu, Apr 03 2008
    Thank You very much. I can totaly relate to what you said. My emotions & life were really ripped apart by not having enough money to live & ge...Read
  3. Wed, Apr 02 2008
    No, its not confusing to me, but I certainly feel for your dilemma! It is a huge snarl, this insurance mess, isn't it!? And the pain makes it all a...Read
  4. Mon, Mar 31 2008
    The contracts are odd. I never signed one until I started taking MS Contin. But my doctor said as long as I speak to him first about changing or uppin...Read
  5. Mon, Mar 31 2008
    OH! I SOOOO know what you're saying. My doc, who is supposed to be a nice person by nature, now treats me as though I am an addict, because his cur...Read

March 2008

  • i dislocated my right shoulder - by Jennifer - (Mon, Mar 24 2008)
    on 12/23/07 i dislocated my right shoulder and after it put back in place and the pain meds wore off i realized i had no feeling in right shoulder or arm to my elbo. in feb 08 i was diagnosed with rsd [more..]
  • new to rsd - by paula - (Thu, Mar 20 2008)
    Hi my name is Paula, In november i fell and broke my left wrist. Hospital suggested i see surgeon who decided to put pins in. A few weeks later my fingers were were so swollen that one was squished down under the other 3 as there was no room for it. [more..]
  • RSD Question - by Rachel - (Mon, Mar 17 2008)
    On Nov 8th 2007,I fell and broke my 5th metatarsal. The usual treatment, boot and crutches. However around Christmas time I felt a new and very different pain. [more..]
  • I want my life back - by Beverly - (Fri, Mar 14 2008)
    i fell and hurt my shoulder. i ripped the muscle in my rotator cuff. they went in to repair it that was january 18 th 2007. [more..]
  • Fear of the Unknown - by Jana - (Mon, Mar 10 2008)
    My husband was injured at work December 19, 2007. That was the day that changed our lives forever. Since that day I have seen my husband go from a cane to a walker with wheels and now a wheelchair. [more..]
  • DISCRIMINATORY PAIN MANAGMENT - by Sabrina - (Fri, Mar 07 2008)
    I have had CRPS for 20yrs/5mths/8days. I spent 17 of those years undiagnosed. An ankle injury/lymph node removal is responsible for my CRPS. Since diagnosis in 2004, it has been a true struggle to find the right care. [more..]
  • Raising Public Awareness to RSD - by G0J0G0 - (Wed, Mar 05 2008)
    I am writing to create an area for people affected by RSD to refer public officials or people that could be beneficial in helping to raise public awareness of this relentless disease to. For anyone that is unaware of RSD also known as CRPS, and it’s toll it wages on the patients and their loved ones, please read some of the posts that have been entered on this great forum. [more..]
  • Letter to Workman’s Compensattion - by Patricia - (Wed, Mar 05 2008)
    Dear Ms B., I had the accident resulting in Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy on my left side September 1, 2003. This event of course changed my life, my abilities both personal and employable. For your information with reflex sympathetic dystrophy sometimes means people commit suicide. [more..]
  • To Long To a Diagnosis - by Amy - (Wed, Mar 05 2008)
    On December 22, 2004 I fell on the ice. My left arm was carrying my briefcase. Somehow during the fall the briefcase ended up under my head. I immediately had swelling and intense pain in my wrist. [more..]
  • What is it? 12-15 years old. - by Courtney - (Wed, Mar 05 2008)
    When i was twelve years old, i was sitting in the sixth grade and my toes started to tingle. i figured they were just falling asleep, so i tried to shake it off. later that day i realized that it was still there, in not only my toes, but my entire right leg! [more..]
  • living with rsd - by diana - (Mon, Mar 03 2008)
    i was hit by a tractor trailer and a van the the trailer then crushed under a box truck .i knew something was wrong with my left leg i saw many doctors .it was a year later still complaing about the pain they told me i had rsd it has not be easy and i have 4 kids [more..]
Archives:
  • 2008 January February March April May June July August September October
  • 2007 April May June July August September October November December


    • The submissions from our site visitors do not reflect the opinion of Healthcommunities.com, Inc. (HC). The Content of HC's sites is intended for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. HC does not provide medical advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you've read on an HC website. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider regarding any medical question or condition. (See also: Website Disclaimer)


    printer friendly versionprint thisemail to a friendemail this AddThis Social Bookmark Button

    Home