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BACKGROUND

This week, a 43-year-old white male presents at the office with a chief complaint of pain. He is assisted in his ambulation with a set of crutches. At the beginning of the clinical interview, the client reports that his family doctor sent him for psychiatric assessment because the doctor felt that the pain was “all in his head.” He further reports that his physician believes he is just making stuff up to get “narcotics to get high.”

SUBJECTIVE

The client reports that his pain began about 7 years ago when he sustained a fall at work. He states that he landed on his right hip. Over the years, he has had numerous diagnostic tests done (x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs). He reports that about 4 years ago, it was discovered that the cartilage surrounding his right hip joint was 75% torn (from the 3 o’clock to 12 o’clock position). He reports that none of the surgeons he saw would operate because they felt him too young for a total hip replacement and believed that the tissue would repair with the passage of time. Since then, he reported development of a strange constellation of symptoms including cooling of the extremity (measured by electromyogram). He also reports that he experiences severe cramping of the extremity. He reports that one of the neurologists diagnosed him with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). However, the neurologist referred him back to his family doctor for treatment of this condition. He reports that his family doctor said “there is no such thing as RSD, it comes from depression” and this was what prompted the referral to psychiatry. He reports that one specialist he saw a few years ago suggested that he use a wheelchair, to which the client states “I said ‘no,’ there is no need for a wheelchair, I can beat this!”

The client reports that he used to be a machinist where he made “pretty good money.” He was engaged to be married, but his fiancé got “sick and tired of putting up with me and my pain, she thought I was just turning into a junkie.”

He reports that he does get “down in the dumps” from time to time when he sees how his life has turned out, but emphatically denies depression. He states “you can’t let yourself get depressed… you can drive yourself crazy if you do. I’m not really sure what’s wrong with me, but I know I can beat it.”

During the client interview, the client states “oh! It’s happening, let me show you!” this prompts him to stand with the assistance of the corner of your desk, he pulls off his shoe and shows you his right leg. His leg is turning purple from the knee down, and his foot is clearly in a visible cramp as the toes are curled inward and his foot looks like it is folding in on itself. “It will last about a minute or two, then it will let up” he reports. Sure enough, after about two minutes, the color begins to return and the cramping in the foot/toes appears to be releasing. The client states “if there is anything you can do to help me with this pain, I would really appreciate it.” He does report that his family doctor has been giving him hydrocodone, but he states that he uses is “sparingly” because he does not like the side effects of feeling “sleepy” and constipation. He also reports that the medication makes him “loopy” and doesn’t really do anything for the pain.

MENTAL STATUS EXAM

The client is alert, oriented to person, place, time, and event. He is dressed appropriately for the weather and time of year. He makes good eye contact. Speech is clear, coherent, goal directed, and spontaneous. His self-reported mood is euthymic. Affect consistent to self-reported mood and content of conversation. He denies visual/auditory hallucinations. No overt delusional or paranoid thought processes appreciated. Judgment, insight, and reality contact are all intact. He denies suicidal/homicidal ideation, and is future oriented.

Diagnosis: Complex regional pain disorder (reflex sympathetic dystrophy)

RESULTS OF DECISION POINT ONE

Decision Point

Savella 12.5mg once daily on day,follow by 12.5mg bid on day 2 and 3,follow by 25mg bid day 4 to 7,follow by 50mg bid thereafter.

·  Client returns to clinic in four weeks

·  Client comes into the office to without crutches but is limping a bit. The client states that the pain is “more manageable since I started taking that drug. I have been able to get around more on my own. The pain is bad in the morning though and gets better throughout the day”. On a pain scale of 1-10; the client states that his pain is currently a 4. When asked what pain level would be tolerable on a daily basis, the client states, “I would rather have no pain of 3.”. When questioned further, you ask what makes the pain on a scale of 1-10 different when comparing a level of 9 to his current level of 4?”. The client states that since using this drug, I can get to a point on most days where I do not need the crutches. ” The client is also asked what would need to happen to get his pain from a current level of 4 to an acceptable level of 3. He states, “If I could get to the point everyday where I do not need the crutches for most of my day, I would be happy.”

·  Client states that he has noticed that he frequently (over the past 2 weeks) gets bouts of sweating for no apparent reason. He also states that his sleep has “not been so good as of lately.” He does complain of nausea today

·  Client's blood pressure and pulse are recorded as 147/92 and 110 respectively. He also admits to experiencing butterflies in his chest. The client denies suicidal/homicidal ideation and is still future oriented.y on day 1; followed by 12.5 mg BID on day 2 and 3; followed by 25 mg BID on days 4-7; follow

Decision Point Two

Discontinue Savella and start Zoloft (sertraline) 50 mg daily

RESULTS OF DECISION POINT TWO

·  Client returns to clinic in four weeks

·  Client returns to the office with his assistive devices. His pain level today is a 7 out of 10. His pain is normally 9 to 10 out of 10. This therapy has provided some pain relief but not as much as he would like. He tells you his expectation is for a pain level of 3 out of 10 or lower. You have explained to him that “no pain” is not an attainable expectation

·  Client agrees to start physical therapy concurrently with medication. He tells you that as long as his pain is being managed he will comply

·  Client did notice that when he takes his Zoloft, his anxiety would amp up when he started taking it so he has been using it sporadically throughout the month. He brought his prescription bottle to the office and you count 12 tablets left in the bottle

·  Client's blood pressure is currently 118/74 and heart rate is 76 beats/minute. Respiratory rate is 17 breaths/minute. His right leg continues to have electrical-like pain running into his toes but he states that it is less severe than the last time you saw him

·  Client also tells you that he has not been able to get an erection in over a week and it is bothersome

rDecision Point Three

Select what you should do next:

Counsel client on the anxiety inducing effects of SSRI’s and their transient nature. Encourage him to continue taking the Zoloft at 50 mg po QDAY

Increase the dose to 100 mg po qday and counsel client on the anxiety caused by SSRI’s and their transient effects. Encourage compliance with the medication daily as prescribed

Increase dose of Zoloft to 100 mg PO QDAY. Add-on Wellbutrin XL 150 mg po QAM. Counsel client on anxiety inducing effects of SSRI’s and how they are transient in nature. Encourage compliance with the drug regimen