My aunt, Janice Kammers, was in a car accident in August of 2009. No broken bones but her right arm and right hand we very swollen and painful. She was sent to a hand specialist for several months. She was treated with physical therapy and anti-inflammitory meds. The pain, coloring, and swelling just got worse and it was traveling up her entire arm. Dr. Cullen suspected RSD so he sent her back to her family doctor. She was then sent to a pain specialist, Dr. Willard in Jan 2010. He was familiar with RSD. She was put through every test immaginable and he tried every pain med possible. Nothing was making her pain go away! She was then sent to Bronson Hospital for a neuro stimulator to be implanted into her spine. After surgery, she tried to get out of bed and fell on the floor. She could no longer feel her right foot and had numbness and swelling in her left hand. She was sent to Mary Freebed for rehab. She was there for several weeks and the pain, swelling and coloring was just getting worse. The neuro stimulator was eventually taken out.
She then was referred to world renown specialist in RSD, Dr. Lubenow in Chicago. He told her he has never seen a case as severe as hers. She was immediately put into Rush Memorial Hospital and had an intrathecal drug trial. Unfortunately, the catheder went epidural and she lost lots of spinal fluid which caused spinal headaches that lasted for days. She went back in January 2011 to try another round of different meds. She had many side effects that lasted for 6 days!
November 2011 she tried a Ketamine coma infusion. Her infusion lasted 3 days. Dr. Lubenow started her on a low dose but they did not get the results they were hoping for. He wanted to try a higher dose but insurance does not pay for this treatment.
In July 2012, she went back to Rush Memorial Hospital to try a pain pump with a new drug....Prealt (snail venom!). She tried it for 3 weeks but her pain never went below a 7 on a scale of 10. The pain pump failed! Now she is just being treated with high doses of pain medication that don't take her pain away.
There is a treatment that they would like to try called, Calmare. It is non-invasive...no coma...no needles! Several of her friends with RSD have tried this treatment and have had great success! This treatment also is not covered by insurance. She would have to stay in the hospital for at least 10 days.
The RSD has now traveled into her head, scalp and face, back, hips, and all 4 limbs. She has to use a cane to try and walk, which is very painful for her. If she leaves the house, she has to use a wheelchair because she cannot walk more than a few feet without severe pain. This women is only 46 years old! She has 4 children. She used to be very active with the kids and their sports. Now she barely leaves her house. Her oldest son is getting married in August. I would love for her to be able to enjoy her son's wedding and not have all this pain. Calmare is the hope that she has been looking for. Please help her in anyway you can. Thank You!