This is a long story, sorry. (the WHOLE story spans several years. We have been told that my husband might possibly have RSD. He has an appointment next week with a neurologist. What has happened is this: he had a spinal stimulator installed (for the 4th time) last February for a back injury that he sustained in 1989. Previous to this he had been taking Oxycontin (pretty high doses). About 1 month post-op he stopped taking the Oxycontin. Three days later, he started having withdrawal symptoms (shortness of breath, etc.) since he has a history of respiratory failure (quit breathing during operations) we took him to the emergency room. In the emergency room, they immediately gave him some more Oxycontin and proceeded to admit him to the hospital. That evening, the resident that was assigned to him decided the best treatment for him (much to our pleas against it) was to put him on Methadone. I tried to plead with her not to since we know how bad that is but she said that it was the best thing for him. They proceeded to give him 150mg (I am not exaggerating) of Methadone. The next morning they gave him 150mg more. They then decided to release him about 5pm that day. I asked the resident how we were supposed to get him off, she replied that she didn't want him off. I tried to explain that his stimulator would be programmed the following Monday (3 days away) and then he wouldn't need ANY medication. (We find out later that his surgeon was NEVER even contacted while all of this was going on.) She basically looked at me like "OH ****! WHAT DID I JUST DO!!! Well, there begins our journey. His stimulator was not able to be programmed, because he was unconscious. He would litteraly be unconscious for 12 hours at a stretch. For the next week, with the instructions of his physician I took him off the Methadone. It took another 1-2 weeks to get it totally out of his system.

During the this time period, we are not quite sure what happend, but somehow he the underside of his right upper arm. He had a lump about the size of a tennis ball, there were blisters on the outside, and he could not feel his right hand. His doctor said that it was "Saturday Night Paralysis" and would eventually heal. Well, that was back mid-April and the little finger on his right hand is still numb and ice cold to the touch and the pain is incredible. He shakes constantly and if he tries to close that hand the shaking is uncontrollable. In about the last 3 weeks, he has started just sweating buckets all of the time. He had tried to start working about 1 month ago, but because of the tremendous pain and missed work, he lost his job last week. His physician has put off and put off the issue with his hand saying that it will just take time. Well, we went to our regular doctor and he said that this is serious and should be seen immediately, he said that from all of the symptoms, it looks like it is probably RSD. We have an appointment with a neurologist next week.

I know this is long and drawn out, but we are frustrated and scared.

You're on the right track! See the neuro next week. Call their office and make sure your husband is on a cancellation list for a sooner appointment. From what you're saying, it doesn't sound a lot like RSD; however, the symptoms may vary from person to person.

Please keep in touch and let me know how it turns out.
Colette, RN
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif

Yes, definitely sounds like RSD...how did the neuro appt go??? As a RN with RSD...I can sympathize with you...it is nice to see the spouse being so involved in the care!!! Thank you from all of us with RSD!
And hang in there--many doctors are not too familiar with treatments.....

Thank you for the responses that I have received. The neuro went fine yesterday, the doctor did a nerve conduction study and an EMG and wants to do some verification testing today just to verify some of his findings. He did not say anything regarding RSD, however. He was mentioning a pinched nerve in the bicep area. He wants to do the verfication tests because it is an unusual location and wants to be sure. Hopefully after today's tests he will be able to tell us more.

Have you tried magnetic therapy?

Renée

Can't do magnetic therapy because he has a spinal stimulator in for something else and can't have anything magnetic like MRI's or anything.

Went to his original neurosurgeon yesterday. He confirmed RSD. He said that some nerves were broken and that he has pain from that and then the sympathetic nerve is cutting down on circulation causing the cold in his finger causing the pain. He is putting him on some medication that is supposed to dialate the veins and see if that helps. He is also requesting a Bier block to see if that does the trick and then we will go from there to see further what can be done on a more permanent level.