Andrew - Fremont, California

I guess I am as scared as anyone who has been told they have RSD, even though I am 10 months into this bizarre ordeal. I am also dying for information. I have been Dx'd with RSD in my right hand up to the shoulder and neck. The hand does not appear bad, swelling has made it 30% larger but, otherwise, it still looks the same. The burning is not that bad on Vicodine and it does come and go. At times I almost feel complete relief, and ask myself, why am I not at work, energizing my body and mind, so I can come home to a good nights rest? Why, why, why is this CRAP different from regular CRAPS.

Some bio first… my name is Andrew and I am 45, divorced and currently living with my significant other (fiancé) and my son of 11, an A student. I sit at home all day because I was put on workers' compensation by the "doctors" and the insurer for my former employer.

Here is what I really need to know… Why won't my own attorney talk to me? Why are there so few lawyers willing to take this case? The same goes for my only doctor currently treating me, I only have one doctor since the insurance company has to fight out their share of cost of treatment. He is a Dr. Feelgood, and hands out 200 to 300 pills of 10mg Hydrocaps - you know, Vicodine, the opiate stuff. Why doesn't this doctor tell me what I can do, even with pushing the insurance company forward?

My first doctor was insurance approved, a very good hand specialist and he quit on me. He told me I was too much risk, since I had carpel tunnel, cubital tunnel, Bipolar, and RSD. He just walked out... A doctor fired me! WOW!

Do you know what its like to have so much anxiety that you dread bedtime 3 hours early? I know that my neck will hurt to the point of turning away from everything, everyone, and that I also am afraid to go to sleep. I've been up many early nights watching the clock; at 3 AM, the new screw for FOX the USA Network comes on, and at 5:30 to 7:15, depending upon the season the sun will rise, and half the fear is gone. I take the vicodine and then I get my 4 hour nap.

How can I get some treatment? Settle my workers compensation case? Pick the correct treatment, and not some type of block that really screws into me and messes me up? Right now, in the 10th month of having RSD, I feel moderate pain. I did have some treatment earlier, and I have been taking some meds too. Perhaps they capped the spread of CRPS/RSD?

Can some nice soul write a book back to me, or else I just may have to rely upon myself, and do what feels right, and pave the way for future readers to know the road to take and not get blocked off!