Diagnosed with CRPS/RSD

Mel2007

Mel2007

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I thought I would start a new thread to try and find some other people out there also with this condition and the process they went through with army doctors and the MEB. The research and other information I have gotten from one other person is it is hard to find people and also even treatments that work with this condition. If you are diagnosed with this condition it is NO walk in the park and constant pain happens everyday. If you are looking for information and your just like others here please feel free to inbox me. I will share the little I know and know that your not alone.

If there are any of you that have been through everything such as the MEB/PEB and know ratings and other needed information for us it would be greatly appreciated.
 
I am currently undergoing the MEB/PEB and just received my NARSUM. Minor mention on the write up (listed as right foot neuroma/capsulitis only)and I heard that it will most likely be rated as 10% which surprises me due to the pain it causes. I was also shocked that during the C&P exam they didn't even check it, but rather, just took the evaluation that I had (pretty detailed) from the podiatrist. I just don't think it is that well accepted of a diagnosis.
 
Thats exactly what I'm afraid of. If it wasnt bothering me everyday and has taken such an impact on my body I would understand a 10% but that seems a little unfair.
 
I understand completely. If you touch it a certain way, it will send you off the table. I am in the same boat. In my MEB rebuttal I plan to re introduce the it is "Complex pain syndrome" or RSD and not just have it listed as a neuroma. Probably won't be successful but I will try. I also have an appointment to be diagnosed for fibromyalgia since my primary care physician heard that a lot of people with CPS tend to have fibromyalgia so I have an appointment with a Rheumatologist.
 
My doctor put mononeuritis of a lower limb on my file and that's how he introduced mine. Should I get that changed?
 
I was told to have mine changed to say RSD, so I sent up an appeal (for that, and to add something else)...and they accepted it, and changed it..before my appeal it said chronic pain. I was told by a VA program that I am in that having that diagnosis listed will help with the %, because RSD/CRPS has some ridiculous symptoms.
What point are you at in the process? I am just waiting for percentages now, and if I get them soon, I will make sure to update on here and let you guys know, since there isnt much about this.
 
I am at the very beginning of it all. That's great info I need to know thanks for the update I will be sure to make sure mine is on there as well.
 
I just visited the podiatrist today. He wrote "he thinks it is RSD"...I don't think it will cut it but I have lots of other issues with my foot. I don't know if I should push it further. Don't want to be sorry later. I just had a IPR review and have another 5 days to get a rebuttal in. Appointment today and probably could get another one but with other issues don't know if it is worth it for me. Neurologist listed my thoracic outlet syndrome as "probable thoracic outlet syndrome" and than is my priority right now. Plus I am trying to get a Rheumatologist appointment to possibly have a fibromyalgia write up included. Obviously lots of irons in the fire.
 
TJkick, I feel your pain once I was diagnosed with CRPS they are having referrals for everything that's wrong with me including my anxiety and PTSD diagnoses so the process is getting me very frustrated.
 
TJkick said:
I just visited the podiatrist today. He wrote "he thinks it is RSD"...I don't think it will cut it but I have lots of other issues with my foot. I don't know if I should push it further. Don't want to be sorry later. I just had a IPR review and have another 5 days to get a rebuttal in. Appointment today and probably could get another one but with other issues don't know if it is worth it for me. Neurologist listed my thoracic outlet syndrome as "probable thoracic outlet syndrome" and than is my priority right now. Plus I am trying to get a Rheumatologist appointment to possibly have a fibromyalgia write up included. Obviously lots of irons in the fire.
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I would talk to your physical therapist too if you have one. They are the one that first noted RSD for me. After them I had like 8 different doctors agree, but its a start. The more you have noted in your file agreeing, the better off you will be!
 
Mel2007 said:
I am at the very beginning of it all. That's great info I need to know thanks for the update I will be sure to make sure mine is on there as well.
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Since your in the beginning, have you done your gen med and all that? If not, what I did which helped me- was write up a week long journal of my RSD symptoms, the pain- and how long it was lasting, description, rating from 0-10, and any other issues that my RSD caused (discoloration, blotchiness, spasms, everything)... I just did it for a week just before my gen med, and took the paper in with me, and explained it to the dr. By having the journal, they were able to see what I was dealing with daily, for how long, ect. The dr actually thanked me for me, and included the whole thing in her write-up.
 
Thanks Lyndsi lou,
Sorry for the late post. I have been recording all my pain and discolorations of my leg when I have a severe episode. I'm a remote active duty soldier which sucks because I travel up to 6 hours just to see all my doctors for my duty fitness referrals. I have been assigned a MEB Coordinator but I hardly hear from anyone which is what I figured would happen. I've been to pain management and all they want to do is give me more medications and tell me how difficult RSD is to treat. Thanks for all your help!
 
Just wanted to update you all... got my percentages today.... for my RSD/CRPS I got 20%. This is what the VA paperwork says: "(after explaining my injury).....Although various conservative treatment modalties and surgery have been performed, the Soldier' pain with hypersensitivity, paresthesia and dyestesia persists. The PEB, IAW DODI 1332.38,E3.P3.2.1, finds this condition unfitting due to the Soldier's inability to stand more than 10 minutes and perform such functional activities as evade direct and inderect fire. VA Rating Decision: 20."

That, with my other unfitting condition, got me permanently retired at 40%, but VA rated me 100%....so im a happy girl today!
 
That's great news Congrats! I am just now doing my phase 1 physical for the meb so I'm still far behind.
 
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