Living with CRPS Vlog - 25th February 2010

More info at http://rellacafa.com

Recorded 25th February 2010

It's been a while since I posted one of these...this is an update about another course of treatment, another arrogant doctor and the path I'm taking from here.

Category:

People & Blogs

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• RSD
• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
• CRPS
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Chronic Pain
• Vlog
• Video Blog
• Video Blogging
• Health
• Rellacafa
• Living With Chronic Pain
• Pain Management
• Australia
• Medical Condition
• Chronic Illness
• Disability

[123dietdrpepper]

God bless you all. I too struggle with ongoing pain and no one deserves to be put down with their pain. As far as I am concerned your doc didn't know how to treat you so you did the right thing and moved on.

Right now, we are debating the pain pump as my CRPS is due to a medical procedure inflicted spinal cord injury. And its funny how the medical community drags their feet and we are the ones sitting in misery. May you all get the treatment u deserve.

[Rellacafa]

Thanks so much, it's always disappointing to be let down by doctors, but it's given me a new sense of being in charge of myself - so that's a good thing! I hope that your doctors get a wriggle on, especially if the pain pump has a good chance of helping...that's terrible that you're suffering this from surgery to begin with :(

[NotYourAverageOne]

A question for you:

You know that 1-10 pain scale, right... When you explain your flares, do you exceed 10, or do you adjust your previous pain to a lower scale??

I used to adjust, but if I did it that way, really bad pain would be a 2.

I don't know if I am making myself clear, I hope you understand my question.

[Rellacafa]

I think the trick is to give each number something that relates directly to how you feel & are able to function. Start with no pain at 0 & try to fill in some levels until full blown pain at 10. It's also something that communicates the pain to others so adjusting backwards can make it sound like it's not as bad as it is - which never helps! Thanks for the comment, it's something I struggle with too :)

[MaryG1959]

I broke my arm in December 2009, developed CRPS and have been seeing the doc ever since. I know what you mean about doctors, they seem to enjoy wriiting prescriptions and operating more than anything. He had me on Neurontin, that was BAD STUFF....so took myself off of it and managing w/over the counter meds and an occasional prescription pain med to sleep. It has now spread to my shoulder. Dr wanted to operate, I refused---it is a big mess so I feel for you.

[NotYourAverageOne]

So glad you understand this concept. I agree with you there 100%

[Rellacafa]

teehee....oh they love doing that more than anything! It's such a menial thing that they get hung up on, they really just need to know if the pain is high, medium or low because every patient is feeling something different!

[NotYourAverageOne]

LOL, you ask, "what does it matter what I rate it if it's beyond the point of incapacitation?"... My answer is...

DOCTORS LOVE TO PICK US APART..

"UUMMMMM, there is no 10 plus"

"Oh, you're at an 8-9, did you know that 10 is the highest level you can possible imagine"....

It's so irritating!!!

[Rellacafa]

I actually had to laugh a little - not at you but because I understand that difficulty all too well. A while back I stopped ever rating it 10 because it felt like it tried to top itself! Now I consider a 9-10 if I'm still functioning and 10+ if I'm reduced to bed...I figure, what does it matter what I rate it if it's beyond the point of incapacitation? I just add +'s depending on how I feel at the time ;)