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 Pain Beyond Belief…They Have a Name For “it”…RSD 
I have been a business professional for over 25 yrs. My high profile job kept me busy a minimum of 12 - 14 hrs a day. And, I thrived on the challenge - looking for more ways to improve my professional image. I juggled the corporate life with caring for my elderly parents, supporting my loving husband, five grown children and eight beautiful grandchildren. I have always felt blessed in my life. Well, that all came to a screeching hault when my body suddenly said to me, “I can’t take this any more, I’m going to give you something you can’t fix, but will bring you to your knees and cause you to re-evaluate your entire way of living. You will no longer be able to work at the pace you did before, you will no longer be able to squeeze and hug your grandchildren or pick them up. You will look in the mirror and see pain, misery and feel the burning pangs of this worst ailment that one can image…I’m going to give you…da,da, da… RSD.” I believe this dialog happened with my body when I was trying to sleep one late night in December 2007. For three months after I tried to ignore the message…going to homeapathic drs only to find no relief. Finally, in February 2008, when the pain was so bad that I prayed for a bus to run me over; my loving husband took me to the hospital emergency. I could no longer hold ANYTHING in my hand, I couldn’t eat, brush my teeth, type or dress myself. He saw that my entire right hand/arm was swollen, stiff, cold as ice, shiny and bluish purple. I didn’t sound like myself, I even thought ending things would bring a solution. I was wrong, very wrong. An orthopedic surgeon happened to be visiting his wife, an ER doctor and saw me in pain. He had them run some tests to help rule out a blocked artery. I was given a pain killer and advised to followed up with him the next day. I was there-as soon as the doors opened. The doctor was engaged, but yet it seemed this might be outside his field. He did recognize the signs though and sent me in the right direction. I had about three different drs to see from there, and tests…lots of them. MRI, EMG, blood work and then my favorite - physical therapy I can probably write a book for every single dr visit, pill and side affect, surgery with trial and some successes to report in these past twelve months….but, will tackle that another day. Long story from here, now a year later. While I DO still feel pain every single day, thanks to the help of Pain Management dr, I have a neuro-stimulator implant (June 08) that cares for about half the pain. I regretablly though find that stronger pain killers must be used to help me function at all. I do take the “least amount” possible, and my husband helps monitor me to ensure I’m staying on track. While I continue to be classified as disabled and unable to work at my former pace, the smiles are starting to come back on my face. I am accepting that this pain has a name, has an unwilling following, but were ARE NOT WILLING to give up. We pray every day that there WILL be a cure. Some ARE starting to listen that this is NOT an imaginary pain, but a REAL, SINISTER AILMENT that attacks with a vengence. It’s victims range in age, but appear to “like” those of us who pushed the envelope with our bodies and minds. We can fight back - we can regain a measure of dignity and not allow this nasty “RSD” to win. Much of my “progress” if only mental is due to the loving support of understanding family, friends, trusting in a heavenly creator who loves each of us and then there are honest/humble ones in the medical profession who truly care about people. I pray you ALL find that circle of support. I’m here to tell you it works - no matter how much “it”/RSD hurts.
May 2009
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