Living with RSDThis section is a place to share stories about Living with RSD Below are entries of those who have already shared their stories. We hope that you find their experiences helpful to your own situation. You may also Help others by sharing your story. To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download To Long To a Diagnosis 
On December 22, 2004 I fell on the ice. My left arm was carrying my briefcase. Somehow during the fall the briefcase ended up under my head. I immediately had swelling and intense pain in my wrist. My family doctor referred me to an Ortho surgeon who referred me to the “top” Ortho surgeon at the U of Minnesota. No one could find anything wrong with my wrist. The so called “top” doctor consistently said my pain was exceeding my condition. He decided I was a drama queen after my surgery turned up nothing wrong. Over the next few years I was told the pain was in my head by some doctors. While others said I just had a low tolerance to pain. They all agreed with the “top” doctor - they thought that one of my arm bones might be to long for my arm and rubbing against my wrist. They were not positive this was the case, but they could come up with no other reason for my pain. The only solution was to have a section of the arm bone removed and than have my wrist pinned. I was not convinced. Thank Goodness I followed my gut! I finally was diagnosed with RSD August 10, 2007. Almost 3 years after the injury. The neurologist who saw me knew within the first 10 seconds what was wrong. It helped that my skin was slightly bluish and my nails were turning purple. My left arm has consistently gone down hill since February 2, 2008 when my right hand was hurt. I was injured at work and may now have RSD in my right arm as well. This time doctors know what is happening and I will not have to go through the pain the first lack of a diagnosis brought on. I am glad that I continued to look for an answer to my pain in my left arm. I did not accept any of the doctor’s ( and I saw a total of 7) recommendation to cut out a section of my arm bone. Another surgery would have increased my pain all over again! Finally having an answer has made the pain easier to live with. Just knowing the pain is not in my head or that I do not have a low tolerance to pain (it is just the opposite!) has given me my confidence back! I do know my body and understand when there is something wrong - even if doctors refuse to believe me.
March 2008
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