I got CRPS when I was in the military so I go to the VA for care related to my disability. My CRPS is manageable, but it's been a while since I've looked into treatment options, so I got referred to the pain clinic by my PCP and went Thursday after work. I had concerns that its moving into my right arm and right lower back. I do have chronic back pain but it's usually okay since I move around a lot and exercise, but the right side literally always hurts more and nothing helps. The doctor basically said it spreading is "near impossible" and I'm looking for something that isn't there.
She said that I probably just have a pinched nerve in my arm (that's fair and possible) and I need to move as much as I can because physically therapy has proven to help people with CRPS the most (I've never read those studies, so I need to look into it). She's going to have the pharmacist look into medications that can also help with my anxiety (yes, I do have anxiety, but not really about medical stuff. I was telling her that my job moved me downtown and the drive makes me have mild panic attacks some days) and is also referring me to a pain psychologist, which made me think she believes I'm not mentally okay. I don't really have time to do all these extracurricular activities since I haven't been at my job for long, so I refused physical therapy for now. I've also done it in the past anyways and it didn't help me.
I'm looking for a more flexible role because I need to go to these appointments at the VA and I'm stressed out over missing too much work. Maybe I'm just being sensitive but she actually made me feel like shit. She was only really positive about how I exercise and said I'm the reason it's not worse because a lot of people just "give up" and their muscles atrophy and mine didn't. And it's like, do you not understand that some people are literally constantly in pain and physically can't do what you're suggesting?
I like to workout, but I'm limited like most people who have CRPS and I actually get really frustrated when I'm at the gym some days. I was still doing all the "military stuff" my peers did when I was active duty, before I was diagnosed, so I probably actually made my leg worse during that time for pushing too hard. But she made it sound like I saved my leg from getting worse. Maybe I wouldn't even have CRPS if I had listened to my body more back then, so who knows. I'm just irritated at her. Anyways, if you made it this far thanks for letting me vent.