Hi all,
So 1999 I injured myself, seemed like minor injury on the day ,but in the days following I was experiencing severe pain throughout my body, this was despite it being a shoulder injury. I progressed to feeling like my arms , legs joints etc were all broken , I was in tears with the worst pain, then when I tried to lay down I couldn't feel my legs, I couldnt bare anything touching me even a small cover or duvet felt like it was crushing me.
So obviously I attended the doctor, I was given pain killers, and over the next four years had differing opinions but no diagnosis. Most infuriating being continually told I was irrational and things like it was in my head.
I tried numerous doctors both male and female with same results. It felt like one doctor thought it was in my head and no one would go against this opinion.
2003 I seen a doctor who spotted my muscle twisted arm and blue colour of my hand. He immediately thought CRPS. I was then sent to
Hospital ,diagnostic department. Where within a day this was confirmed as full body crps.
In between all this I had seen private doctors, had surgery etc etc ,which probably shouldn't have happened.
A rough count around 20 different G.Ps, 10 specialists, scans test stays etc.
Outcome is that after 4 years it's to late to stop crps spreading and nothing but pain relief.
If you type in or know CRPS it easy to see my anger.Given the symptoms are easy to see.
Not one GP Listened to the symptoms. All to arrogant to listen.
So i struggle through life self managing my condition. Until 2015, due to crps sometimes my legs don't do as expected so this resulted in a fall on my stairs. I landed heavily on my side and was badly bruised.
So trip to the docs, no examination just a quick look , and told just bruising given pain killers.
In agony back a week later it was muscular would take time to heal. Still getting worse I had 3rd and 4th visits to different gps. So 6 weeks in and having told everyone things were getting worse and having the usual , it's your condition making it worse. The 5th gp finally examined me, booked in for an x-ray.
One week later before the x-ray I collapsed and was blue lighted to Hospital, doc had a look and in 30seconds said it's muscular, prescribing meds.
My partner went mad, and he agreed an x-ray.
It so happened the bottom of my lung had collapsed.
Over the next 2 years I had physio pain clinic lignacane infusions etc etc still pain not better in my ribs . Final got a scan , revealing 2 fractured ribs .not healed as the should have.
So i wrote the post because I don't believe that 95 percent of the doctors I have seen ,actually listened to me, my symptoms etc.
What you get is a cop out, that CRPS is difficult to diagnose, I disagree.
Cop out to blame other problems on CRPS
SO hopefully this clears up the reasons for the post.
Sorry for the length but I'm going on 20years of this now. So if as me are things improving .
I have to laugh.
Cheers all.
Dave