Hi Tessa. I completely understand. I have struggled with this too, as I am sure many of us have. I was always the strong and tough one. I had a high tolerance of pain since I have suffered from some sort of pain majority of my life...well before RSD hit me more than 22 years ago. My husband always joked that he married me for my muscles. Now I can hardly do anything...it is disheartening. You should not be ashamed of anything. If your pain is skyrocketing, then you have to make adjustments for it...even when it includes increased medication. If I had the option to take something that I could tolerate and it would take even the edge off, I would be all over it. Unfortunately, I cannot take most meds. I have demerol and it does not help the pain, but it makes me not care as much...sometimes it will take a small edge off. My husband will see me struggling and crying in pain and he will ask if I have taken anything...if not, take it! I toughed it out for a very long time and that made people think that I wasn't as bad as I really was. It only made me worse. I used to care what people were saying and how they acted, but that only hurt me. I realized that I need to focus on myself and if they don't get it, well that is their problem. My sister used to say stuff to me about taking pain meds, she stopped once she realized how bad I was.

My Mom always got it and I know it is because she took me for the SGB's 22 years ago. She saw everything firsthand. When everything got worse (2009), no one else really got it. What helped is showing the McGill Pain Index. There was also this article/letter from I found on the rsdhope website...http://www.rsdhope.org/letter-to-fam...-patients.html I shared this on Facebook in hopes that family and friends would read it and get a better understanding of what I am dealing with. It helped quite a bit. I highly recommend using this when someone is having a hard time "getting" it.

Sorry, rambling here.

Bram - I am with you! Coming here and seeing so many others who are going through the same thing helps me so much! I hate that you guys are suffering, but glad you are caring and showing such awesome support. It helps me greatly...so thank you!!

Tessa, I hope you (and everyone else) can get some relief soon.
Nanc