I can understand the palpable anger and frustration generated within your post. And while I do not have a nursing degree, in my youth (I am now 75), I did work as a medical assistant (which did have required courses/training) and as a microbiology lab tech. So I do have a good grasp of medicine, the human body, and related topics.

But I totally disagree with you. Definitions for CRPS and fibromyalgia are NOT the same.

I have dealt with fibromyalgia for decades (a bit over three and a half now more or less). CRPS entered my life after a severe fall onto a concrete floor back in 2021, wherein my entire left side was traumatically damaged. The left ankle developed symptoms over several months, and a year after the fall, I was dealing with 24/7 burning nerve pain surrounding the entire ankle, top of foot, up the leg. Pain level was a constant 7 to 9 out of ten. To say that I was miserable is an understatement. After several doctors entered the picture, my neurologist diagnosed CRPS Type 2, which meant that it was resulting from trauma/damage. NOTHING helped, and I cannot take pain meds, so I was left with a very unhappy existence. PT had not helped the ankle until I found an incredible therapist a short distance from our home who had helped with the knee (after injections from my orthopedist). I agreed to what the Pain Management and amazing podiatrist said: PT for the ankle with this same therapist, trying to make sure that my muscles would not atrophy. Pain doctor and the podiatrist both agreed that PT is essential and instrumental with CRPS. Exercises and manipulative therapy started to release the grip of the horrid pain of CRPS. FOUR months of twice per week sessions, plus my doing exercises at home, has brought the situation to PL 5, sometimes 6, and still burning 24/7 nerve pain but I am grateful for the reduction in what I used to have. I have no false hopes of ever being rid of the situation, and the symptoms do affect the leg, especially since neurologist ascertained that there is nerve damage up the leg, around the knee and into the thigh. My knee suffered tears including in areas of meniscus, and that's another story, but what I'm trying to make clear is that CRPS is NOT the same as fibromyalgia but fibromyalgia can impact on my overall pain in that other areas of my body are then activated. I refused a sympathetic nerve block into my spine due to serious issues in the lumbar spine and hip. Not sorry that I refused it. And my neurologist concurred.

Like you, I am GF, for nearly 10 years and read food labels diligently. No restaurants, no take-out foods. I do the best that I can for myself, but I will never allow anyone to manipulate my spine in any manner. I do as much research as possible on my conditions, thus being able to have meaningful conversations with whichever doctor I choose to see. I cannot take pain meds --- none. When needed, my primary has okayed taking Aleve. I have other (many!) health issues to juggle and cope with. And yes, there are times that I am indeed angered that there is so much pain in my life. But I am not a martyr. I am vested in advocating for myself and cannot accept being a zombie and suffering the dire consequences of the various meds that I was prescribed over the years. I acknowledge that my ankle, leg, and knee will never return to what they had been prior to 2021. And I have adjusted my daily activities along with my outlook. There are many factors that color and define my life at this point and time. It can indeed be overwhelming.

I am so sorry that you are in such a horrible situation. I do commiserate. I hope that you can succeed with locating the medical help that can address your very real pain, and thus reach a plateau of relief. 💖🙏🏽