Hello,

I have CRPS and permanent bodily injuries. I'm in advanced stages and am homebound and use a wheelchair.

I was an actor, makeup artist, writer and performer until a drunk driver crashed into me whilst I was driving home from work one day in 2006.

I slowly got worse and developed new symptoms over the years but I never researched anything online and never (until today) utilised forums. I was finally diagnosed about 5 years after the onset of the disease and it was so advanced by then that there was nothing the doctors could do.

In the States I received pain medicine that helped some, and in fact I did some acting and comedy and was still writing until 2008/2009, but in the UK pain meds are frowned upon so I've lost the ability to do the things I once could. I hope one day a doctor will prescribe me meds to help so that I can be productive again. I'm actually much more clear-headed when on medicine and it never made me drowsy or lethargic, no one even knew I was taking them.

I'd love to know what other people with off the charts pain do without pain medicine to help get through the day (I can't even wash my face but every few days now which is very frustrating). I'd also like to find anyone who was made disabled by a drunk driver as it's a pretty big deal to me that someone else caused my disabilities and pain.

Anyway, my point was that I don't know where to introduce myself as a new member. I'm in my 30's and am a bit of an old lady when it comes to technology. Is responding to this post enough or should I make my own intro as a new 'thread'? I couldn't find a search tool to help. I feel like an idiot. I really was University educated, but did all my studying with books, not the internet.

Thank you and I'm sorry if I took over your post. I'll remove it if I can once I know what the heck I'm doing. I usually can't even get online and type like this so I'm trying to knock it all out whilst I can.