by fireyone » Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:45 am
About 6 months ago I was invovled in a car accident. A lady driving too fast for weather conditions totaled my truck with her car and was cited on scene. My jaw was slightly disaligned for which I now wear a retainer at night, whiplash and right arm trauma (used it to block the airbag). What I thought was going to be a quick recovery turned into a nightmare. After months of Phy. therapy, chiropractic care and medical test I was finally diagnosed with RSD (chronic pain syndrome) in my right arm. It is still very swollen and slightly discolored and they say this is all the better it will get and may actually worsen in time. Tomorrow I go to the pain clinic to find ways to manage the pain. This coluldn't happened at a worse time since my husband and I was building a home and both HAD to be working. Now I am buries in finacial woes and get depressed thinking that it is really going to be never ending since my earning capacity is knocked to nothing. My right arm is my dominant one and my job requires a lot of lifting and physical ability (when and if I ever can do it again). I was released to light duty before being diagnosed with the RSD but my job was done for the year . I usually spend every winter working part time at a clothing store, then in the spring return to the greenhouse. Does anyone have any idea how long a claim like this will take to settle? I hear when your done doctoring but in my case that will never be. What is a amount that I can expect from this claim? I really need to shed some light down this dark hole.
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 01:02 am Post Subject:
I was really curious about the pain clinic, My orthopedic doctor wanted me to go to one of those a few years ago, but I was really afraid that the steriods would cause me to gain more weight and I did not see the trade off there, more weight on my back would have made the condition worse. From what I understand, the pain medication is so strong that you lose functionality for a while, not sure that I want to experience this.
Has anyone every had the pain clinic experience that involved the pain block shots? I am curious, because my back has gotten worse again, each year it deteriorates more and more, I may end up there eventually. What is your experience with this, anyone?
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:01 pm Post Subject:
Has anyone every had the pain clinic experience that involved the pain block shots
yep been seeing a pain doc at a pain clinic about four years...depends on 'which' shots you are referring to...i on occasion have a bunch of injects that are really like novacain (spelled wrong I'm sure) that numb stuff up, I do that when I'm really locked up....she/doc can only add cortizone about three times a year...I tried the epidural thing...for me it was a nightmare and didn't work after the first one doc even said would never do it again...most of my trouble is high in my neck area, and there is just not enough room left between my poor vert.(discs are nearly gone), so he was hittin' bone with the needle (you are actually being xrayed while they do it so they can see where they are putting the needle)...thought I was gonna lose my mind, and hollared some pretty ugly words pretty loud... :roll: wasn't my finest hour, but damn it hurt bad...(and i ain't no pain wimp)...but I know personally many many people that this has helped greatly! they are usually administerd in three or four rounds....hope that helped....oh as to the pain meds, you work up a resistance so that you don't feel any effects other than lessening the pain...Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 01:00 pm Post Subject: pain clinic
Came back from the pain clinic and was perscribes Lyrica. The warnings on this bottle are enough to make me a little weary to take it. It is suppose to be a nerve blocker. Has anyone ever taken it? Probaly will get enough courage to take it this weekend when my husband is home (just in case). Also I am scheduled for a stellate ganglion block...injections given through the neck to numb pain nerves. Anyone ever had this done? Any views on it? I would love for this to work so I can start being able to do things again. Thanks
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 04:25 am Post Subject:
I never had anything like this done and would not want to be in your shoes, it must be so scary, I think you are wise to wait till your husband is home so if you have any reaction to the medication you will have some one with you. Just becareful and don't do anything that could possibly cause you danger, like drive while on it. Hope you feel better soon.
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:49 pm Post Subject: delayed shots
I decided to delay the shots until after my appointment on the 30th with presy hospital in Pittsburgh. They are doing rsd testing and I want to get those results first. I mean what if it is something they haven't found causing my injury to not heal and the shots turn out to be the wrong way to go. What if there is another route and if it is CONFIRMED RSD then they could give me more updated info on the side effects of these shots. I figure its the only body I have and I value my arm even if it doesn't work right. I want all the details first. So although I was anxious to see if the shots would help me feel normal again I figure what is a little longer. I'll keep you posted.
Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:05 pm Post Subject:
Please keep us updated on the shots, there are a few people here who are interested in what they are like first hand.
goodluck, hope this all works out for you, hate to hear about anyone in pain. Hope it declines soon.
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 04:52 pm Post Subject:
I have some really bad issues with my back that flare up sometimes, they wanted me to go to a pain clinic a few years ago, but I did not go for fear of the steroids in the shots making me gain weight and I did not see where this would be any benefit to me at all.
However, my back is getting worse and worse as years go by, it gets so bad sometimes that the normal medication that they prescribe does not work, I still get up and go to work, seems like laying around does not help it. I tried the chiropratic route, but got really irritated with him when my back is killing me and he wants to talk about nutrition and total health. Sorry, I don't want to go there with a chiropractor, just adjust me and let me go. I may have to pursue the pain clinic if my condition continues to worsen. Hopefully it will not come to that, but I look forward to your updates on here, so please keep this thread updated. Appreciate it.
Read the answer that Lori gave, don't know if I could handle that, you sound like a pretty tough cookie, I think I am too. I would like to see what someone elses experience is like also, the more information, the better, right. Did you friends that had this done have it done on the back also?
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 04:52 pm Post Subject: car acident/rsd
Hi, I also was in a car accident, in 10/06 I was a back seat passenger in a cab, the driver was talking on his cell phone and driving with the other arm which was in a cast! he changed lanes but traffic was stopped and he hit the car ahead of us at 35-40 mph, I flew out of the seat and hit my shoulder on the pasenger back seat, I went the next day to see a dr and x-rays were normal, I couldnt believe the cab company did not call to see if i was ok as I used them everynight for about 5 months so i had a friend call and the owner said he didnt know about an accident and told my friend to have me call, which i did and when I asked him about the accident he stumbled and said oh yea yea there was a report but stated the driver said no one was in a cab, so I got a lawyer and have seen various drs and now possibly have a dx of rsd after all these months, I know in ca you have to file a claim within 2 years but that doesnt mean the case has to be resolved in two years. I sure hope all goes well with you I can relate to your pain and frustration, I have been in this pain for 15months and now am awaiting auth from my ins for a stellate ganglion block which I hope to get soon so i can return to work. I will keep you posted and you please let me know your outcome. good luck and best wishes to you!
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 02:13 pm Post Subject: RSD
I just went to have RSD testing done last week and I am now waiting on results before going onto the block. My atty. informed me that we can more than likely go forward to settlement in this case if the results are in my favor. I really don't want this diagnosis but I deal with it either way. Its hard to believe the loss of use I have of this hand. Its is not half of it was before. The worst part is if someone comes up and grabs it when I am not expecting it or trying to sleep with it at night. I hope everything turns out well for you. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Good luck.
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 04:29 pm Post Subject: car accident
Well my auth has gone through for a stellate ganglion block and a cervical block, I m having it done on feb 14th, I know its the choice for my diagnosis and my pain, though I am scared I need to do this but I have to ask the DR some questions like how long does it last, when will I see results...does anyone have a question that you want me to ask? I see there are a few people in here who are interested in knowing about the blocks let me know I will call Dr tomorow.
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