results of dr's visit - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

dayton · 07-28-2003, 04:19 PM

Thought I would let you know results of dr's visit. Some of this is interesting.
1. told him i'm eating everything in sight and can't stop gaining weight. felt it was the neurotin so he wrote a prescription for beclovent. Has anybody taken this?
2. asked him about the new tingling sensation in front of foot and toes. he felt this was not a symptom of rsd but rather a neurological problem -- commented it could be the nerve trying to heal itself.
3. told him i was exercising about 15 minutes every other night. he was surprised i could do it at all but said if it didn't bother me keep it up but don't overdue. he said i've got to protect that foot and not reinjure it cause it will set me back months.
4. told him about stress free vacation and lack of sleep (since hubby is on shift work and I keep getting woken up.). he said that's why i gave you elavil -- to help you heal yourself and I know you are under a great deal of stress at work and at home.
oh, this is really interesting. he said he has three female patients (one a nurse) that come in every six months to a year for blocks. he says he doesn't want to see me for six months but the instant i get that burning leg pain, i'm to call. He said he would not even classify me as stage 1 as some people can have just one episode of this, get blocks, and don't have another one. he said he's hoping i am one of these. also loosing weight is a must. the added weight streses the foot and leg.
also said it can take a long time to recover from a blown vein and the damage done to the body so keep a eye on it.
So all in all, a good visit -- dang, he's so cute I could just go every week and sit and look at him!!! oh, where was I ??? I took off today and I damaged a bridge in my mouth and had to have it reclued so with two doctor appts, i just called in sick. besides boss in on a business trip, and hubby ain't here to gripe about me taking off. I'm Sooooooooooo looking forward to retirement.
I hope everyone is doing better. We can beat this *****, I know we can, so don't give up hope......

sharon1030 · 07-28-2003, 07:17 PM

Hi Dayton,

I'm glad you had a good appointment with your doctor.

Sharon

Norine · 07-28-2003, 09:45 PM

Hi Dayton,

It sounds like you have a really good doctor. If he is as cute as you proclaim, I'm catching the next plane

Is he a primary care physician or is he a specialist? If he is a specialist, what field is he in?

In reference to your questions numerically:

1. Regarding the baclofen, I don't think it is for weight loss but I haven't looked in to it further.

2. Regarding the tingling... Been there, heard that, not satisfied with the answer.

3. Oh wow, I can answer this one: Exercise to tolerance. If it hurts, cut back a bit or find another exercise for the time being that is not so harsh. If it is really painful to walk on your foot, try walking in a pool. You have to keep moving that foot.

4. Again, he sounds like a really good doctor when he considers your loss of sleep and cares to do something about it.

He also mentioned the burning pain, which is very interesting: Is it gone completely or tolerable,that is, without medications? And on a scale of 1 to 10, what is your lowest daily pain, your average daily pain and your highest daily pain?

I hope you have a good week. Please take care,

Norine

dayton · 07-29-2003, 05:46 AM

Norine, this is my pain management doc. he's an anthesiologist and gave me the lumbar blocks. since i hit my foot under a chair rail, he said one of the main nerves in the foot is on the top of the foot which i hit. that's why he says it sounds like the nerve is trying to heal itself. as for pain, i really don't have any right now, just an awareness of the leg being different. i've never had swelling or real sensitivity to touch, just an occasional blotching of my foot. my ankle gets a little round swelling like a golf ball bit not much. he also said since i stopped taking my hormones that the hot flashes could be from that but it's also a symptom of rsd. he knows my personal situation both at work and at home. he's giving me the elavil for both the pain and as an antidepressant since I've been diagnosed with fibro and mild depression according to a shrink. I work full time every day, take care of the house, and everything else around here. hubby is never home because he's out flying somewhere so it's up to me to pay bills, take out trash, clean house, do laundry, etc. I'm very fortunate that we caught this early. for those in the dallas/fort worth area his name is dr. enty and he's at HEB hospital on airport freeway. i only had one real night of what i call that oven burning pain. i hope to heavens i never have that again. it was awful. felt like my leg was being burned over a fire. ugh, makes me hurt just to think about it. i'm also fortunate that my sis is a radiologist so i call her all the time. well i've got to run. took off yesterday and i know my desk will be loaded. hope you're doing ok.

dayton · 07-29-2003, 05:54 AM

sorry norine i see i didn't answer your pain question very well. that one night i had a 10 plus i mean it was crying all night long and tearing my hair out pain. vicodin and phernagan and ultram did absolutely nothing for it. it went away and settled to about a 3 and then lessened to a 2 or so, this was over a couple of months period. i had my accident on february 17th and started blocks in april. after the first block i went down to about a 1 and then as i had more it went away. right now my leg just had a mild itch, very bearable with meds. dr. enty did say that i was unusual in that i never had swelling, real blue type blotchiness, sensitivity to touch and all and the level of pain he's seen in other patients. he said i just didn't fit the normal description of rsd but everybody is different. he said the block confirmed it tho. it gets numb if i sit too long. now if i can just get used to the elavil being at 75 per nite i'll do ok. at least i'm not so grumpy!!