1. < Chronic Pain

Help With CRPS Case

Posted by mlewis24 @mlewis24, Apr 28, 2020

Hi every one. I'm very thankful to have found this page and I'm hoping to get some answers. I've been diagnosed with CRPS since February and the injury occurred towards the end of September of 2019. My condition occurred from 2 metatarsal bone fractures that had a delayed diagnoses because of the fractures not being visible on X-ray imaging. It took an MRI that was done in January to detect the second metatarsal bone fracture and the stretched lisfranc ligament. The unique part of my situation is how the injuries occurred.

A truck driver got out of his vehicle early in the morning and came around to my car door at a stop light, he was angry from road rage, kicked my car, I got out at that point (I know it wasn't the right decision) but I was dealing with anger (which is currently being addressed and treated) so I tried to fight back. I do realize I put my life in danger and have learned from this. He started manhandling me and ran back into his truck as I tried to mace him. At that point I kicked the front bumper of his truck (18-wheeler) because I was so enraged that no one stopped. This was early in the morning at a stop light and few people did see it, but decided they had more important things to tend to. After I kicked his truck I went to the doctor that day and they diagnosed it as a sprain until I cam back in October because the pain was increasing and then they found that initial first metatarsal non displaced fracture. Second metatarsal fracture found about 2 months later and was a displaced fracture. I hope there's someone out there who might have a response to this without too much judgement. I know it sounds like a crazy scenario, but unfortunately the deep issues from the past turned into anger so I'm still paying for it with CRPS.

My questions specifically are:

If I started getting treated for CRPS in March do you think my chances of a solid recovery are high?
Are there any other health care specialist that I should reach out to to increase my chances of a good recovery? (Besides pain management getting the lumbar sympathetic blocks and physical therapy)

I'm a 24 year old female with no prior chronic health history or surgery (small procedure to remove kidney stones)
My mom doesn't have the best immune system however, which does concern me because I know this will play off of how my recovery goes as well. It isn't easy to talk about my situation, but If there's someone out there who can reply I would appreciate with all my heart! Pain is a real spirit killer..

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

cldmeyers | @cldmeyers | Apr 29, 2020

You are right about pain. I was getting pt treatments for petelofibular (I think) syndrome. Kneecaps aren't tracking properly when I bend my knees. Quite painful. On December 10, I walked out of the office, tripped on a diminishing curb, went up in the air, and body slammed myself onto my right side. For days I was fine except for a slight concussion. On me, who could tell? Now I'm seeking treatment for swollen left foot, even worse knee paint, and general pain all on my left side. Talking by phone with primary care doctor about chiropractor. Since we're locked down in our senior living residence, I'm not missing anything, but because I can't get to our exercise machines, I feel I'm losing strength. Hope to have some answers next week. Let's keep in touch. You kicked an 18-wheeler? Dang!

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 29, 2020

Hi @mlewis24, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Having kicked a few things in my younger days I completely understand. I'm sorry that you are having to deal with CRPS as a result of the injury. There is another discussion that you may want to join in and meet other members discussing CRPS and read what they have shared.

Chronic Pain > CRPS: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/crps-2/

@rsnowflake, @mam14, @lorirenee1, @faithwalker007, @burningfeetinphoenix and @jenniferhunter may have some thoughts on the injury and CRPS.

Did your doctor mention any possibility of a pinched or damage nerve in the foot or ankle?
There is another discussion which may be worth reading as a possible treatment or therapy -- Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

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1 reply
mlewis24 | @mlewis24 | May 1, 2020
In reply to @cldmeyers "You are right about pain. I was getting pt treatments for petelofibular (I think) syndrome. Kneecaps..." + (show)
@cldmeyers

You are right about pain. I was getting pt treatments for petelofibular (I think) syndrome. Kneecaps aren't tracking properly when I bend my knees. Quite painful. On December 10, I walked out of the office, tripped on a diminishing curb, went up in the air, and body slammed myself onto my right side. For days I was fine except for a slight concussion. On me, who could tell? Now I'm seeking treatment for swollen left foot, even worse knee paint, and general pain all on my left side. Talking by phone with primary care doctor about chiropractor. Since we're locked down in our senior living residence, I'm not missing anything, but because I can't get to our exercise machines, I feel I'm losing strength. Hope to have some answers next week. Let's keep in touch. You kicked an 18-wheeler? Dang!

Jump to this post

Thanks for the reply. I'm sorry to hear about how your injury occurred and I hope there are some at home exercises that might promote some strength? I know it can be difficult. For some odd reason, I find exercise helps with my pain syndrome. I also started reading about UV light therapy used to regenerate cells and accelerate healing. I'm going to try it when I find a good source of UV light. Yesterday I got my 4th injection and for the first time I've felt more relief from my pain since before the injury even occurred. Sympathetic nerve block injections are painful but necessary if the pain you experiencing is overcoming your quality of life. I can relate to the swelling in your foot, and sorry to hear that it's gotten to the point where it's your whole left side. Contrast baths reduce the swelling by desensitizing the nerves that are misbehaving. I hope you find a remedy soon. Have you gotten in touch with pain management or physical therapy? Those two in combination are very important to start early on per what my doctors have relayed to me, and the longer you wait, the longer it will take to reverse. Good luck 🙂

REPLY
1 reply
mlewis24 | @mlewis24 | May 1, 2020
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @mlewis24, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Having kicked a few things in my younger days..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hi @mlewis24, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Having kicked a few things in my younger days I completely understand. I'm sorry that you are having to deal with CRPS as a result of the injury. There is another discussion that you may want to join in and meet other members discussing CRPS and read what they have shared.

Chronic Pain > CRPS: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/crps-2/

@rsnowflake, @mam14, @lorirenee1, @faithwalker007, @burningfeetinphoenix and @jenniferhunter may have some thoughts on the injury and CRPS.

Did your doctor mention any possibility of a pinched or damage nerve in the foot or ankle?
There is another discussion which may be worth reading as a possible treatment or therapy -- Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for the resources and insight. I haven't heard anything about a pinched nerve but because my brain adapted to the pain in my body that occurred from the injury, it has to be rewired to forget the source of pain. However, the pain sight is completely real. It's so confusing! I had never heard of CRPS until I was diagnosed and I read that it is an under diagnosed condition. To have people to chat with about it really does help, because what works for someone else might work for me.

REPLY
cldmeyers | @cldmeyers | May 1, 2020
In reply to @mlewis24 "Thanks for the reply. I'm sorry to hear about how your injury occurred and I hope..." + (show)
@mlewis24

Thanks for the reply. I'm sorry to hear about how your injury occurred and I hope there are some at home exercises that might promote some strength? I know it can be difficult. For some odd reason, I find exercise helps with my pain syndrome. I also started reading about UV light therapy used to regenerate cells and accelerate healing. I'm going to try it when I find a good source of UV light. Yesterday I got my 4th injection and for the first time I've felt more relief from my pain since before the injury even occurred. Sympathetic nerve block injections are painful but necessary if the pain you experiencing is overcoming your quality of life. I can relate to the swelling in your foot, and sorry to hear that it's gotten to the point where it's your whole left side. Contrast baths reduce the swelling by desensitizing the nerves that are misbehaving. I hope you find a remedy soon. Have you gotten in touch with pain management or physical therapy? Those two in combination are very important to start early on per what my doctors have relayed to me, and the longer you wait, the longer it will take to reverse. Good luck 🙂

Jump to this post

6 months of pt hasn't done much. I have a phone appointment with my gp next week, and will be talking about much of what has been in these messages. She had referred me to a sports doc for the petulofemoral syndrome, and he sent me for pt. After 2 months, I had a very hard fall on cement on my right side, but the pain I'm still suffering is more on my left side -- shoulder, thumb, knees, ankles, and toes with swollen feet. I'm hoping she'll agree for me to see a chiropractor. I honestly feel like I need a complete overhaul.

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