I commiserate with your pain and truly understand your need for answers.💖

I've written within this past year or so about my CRPS journey, which started with a devastatingly harsh fall onto concrete floor in a food warehouse in our town. First foot orthopedist turned out to be an airhead, dismissive of what I felt in the ankle/foot, telling me "let's given 6 more weeks...". Bottom line: The fall was in June '21 and by end of November I was fed up with his repeated refrain of "Let's give it another 6 weeks because soft tissue damage take times to heal." He flat out refused to order an MRI or anything else for that matter, just PT (which did NOT address my pain, nor ameliorate it). I finally demanded at least a nerve conduction study, to which he reluctantly agreed. He never called to inform me of results, which I learned via the Patient Portal that did indeed indicate damage/involvement of nerves. The month following the study, I made appointment to again request that my expanding/intensifying pain be acknowledged and addressed, as well as have him finally concede to an MRI (had kept saying all those months that in his expert opinion (!) an MRI was NOT indicated nor would it help at all with what he arrogantly stated was "...just pain that will improve with time -- just accept that and go on with your activities and life.") Yeah! That was last time I had anything to do with this hubristic, dismissive "professional". I brought the conduction studies to my neurologist (within a different practice). Ankle was still swollen and painful ONE WHOLE YEAR POST INJURY. He firmly stated that an MRI most definitely SHOULD have been done. He ordered it, and along with the results of conduction studies recommended a foot orthopedist in private practice. That doctor, after thorough examination, etc., concluded that there was nothing that could be done at that point regarding the pain that now was BURNING NERVE PAIN, of entire ankle, up the lower leg, over the entire foot of Pain Scale 7 to 9 out of 10. PERSISTENT, 24/7 PAIN. My neurologist diagnosed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. So I had a diagnosis at last, but the horrid journey to that place could have been so different if the first foot orthopedist had taken care of my pain more professionally. (Actually, I've since learned that several other patients had complaints about him also, including improperly done surgery, so I'm glad that I ditched him.)

The takeaway from the extensive research that I did: Early intervention can help to lessen the possibility of ending where I have, now more than 2 years with CRPS and its constant 24/7 burning nerve pain. My pain management doctor and superb podiatrist highly supported PT. None of the centers within my area had been at all helpful, so I did an extensive search, vetting other places and therapists. I finally opted to go with a highly skilled therapist who had helped with damages to knee and strengthening supportive muscles. He knew nothing about CRPS but willing listened to what my condition entails (CRPS was unknown to ALL the therapy clinics to which I reached out). He helped release the tightness that had developed, teaching me what I could do to help myself since PT is what is indicated as being most helpful and advantageous for CRPS sufferers.
So three and a half years after the horrid trauma to the entire left side of my body, the ankle/foot/lower leg are the areas STILL affected due to the ensuing CRPS. Twenty-four/seven, BURNING nerve pain, averaging a sometimes low of about 6 to unbearable high of 8-9 out of 10. Emotionally, mentally, physically draining.

What have I found that helps?
•Self-massage
•Stretches of muscles/tendons (as taught in PT)
•Elevating legs (including against the wall)
•Heating pad
•Alleve when most needed (I cannot take most often prescribed meds like gabapentin, codeine, etc.)
•A topical cream compounded by my podiatrist
•Breathing exercises
•Relax/release of whole-body muscles, etc. (especially nice when done to relaxing music)

These are what I do to deal/cope with my personal hell of CRPS.
The condition has no cure. 😳
Despite what a few members have posted, surgery is not what has been cited in medical journals for addressing the condition. For those that have obtained total release/relief, I'm certainly happy for them. But research literature squarely indicates that CRPS does NOT have a cure, while also acknowledging that PT is a crucial way to deal with aspects of the condition.

I did accept TWO shots (on either side of ankle) by the second foot orthopedist to whom I'd been sent for consultation. But it was so incredibly painful (and did not release me from pain nor ameliorate the condition) that he told me there was nothing more that he could do and referred me back to my neurologist. And thus came the diagnosis of CRPS Type 2 (due to trauma) in June '22...

I'm 76 and have many comorbidities. CRPS is just "there" on a daily basis but not the main focus of my concerns at this point. It has indeed added yet another level to my ataxia and gait issues. As I sit here typing this, I have needed to periodically get up, stretch out the left leg, wiggle the foot/ankle to release some of the tightness...but the pain itself does not go away. I've learned to live with the consequences of the trauma to the affected areas but will not allow CRPS to define my daily life. No. Too many more significant issues call for my attention.

I hope you locate professionals who will LISTEN, brain-storm, be willing to consult with others on your medical team, and guide you to at least a more tolerable dimension in you pain journey. God bless.🙏🏽