Hi everyone! I am new to this group even though I am not new to the RSD life of pain. I will say I have led a frustrating life since 2003 when my life changed forever.

I was in a bad car accident and had 13 surgeries to try and fixed by crushed leg and ankle. It wasn't until 2006 did I get the diagnoses of RSD. Had a spinal stimulator implant placed in 2007 that allowed me to be able to have my amazing son. I was told this was all that could be done for me. Nothing I could do and just had to learn to live with it.

I learned real quick to not tell some doctors your diagnoses as I have had to find new doctors because they don't even want to touch you. Now that RSD is more in the news, I am learning that you can't at least do things in your life to help keep your RSD from getting worse.

I am new in this department as this explains why I just can't figure out or make sense of what to do or not to do. I have learned not to sit to long or stand to long. Just haven't figured out the happy medium. When the RSD is bad, it goes from my ankle all the way up to my knee. I also have another type of pain caused by tendon and ligament damage from the accident. Dealing with two types of pain has been very hard. It is nice to find a place where people don't look at you like why aren't you getting better.

I will never forget the day my older brother told me I just needed to suck it up and live with it. That was the lowest point of my life. I don't handle medications very well because of the side effects and my pain doctor wants me to get on all this strong stuff. They get angry with me because I refuse to take them. I have a 6-year-old and I am not going to be drugged up and miss watching him grow up.

Any advice anybody can give me would be great. I have gotten a couple of books that confirmed I am not crazy with some of the things that are going on with me. I cherish every good day I have even though I don't have many.

What foods do I need to stay away from or drinks? Is there any vitamins or anything I should be taking? I looked into the Ketamin medication but the only doctor that performs this in North Carolina said she would not touch me because of all the years I went undiagnosed. I am willing to do anything to be able to have the most out of life I can get to be with my son and husband. I just want to know I am doing what I should be doing.

I will say my parents and brother are not very supportive of my diagnoses. I even bought them a book explaining how they can make things easier for me but nothing. My mom gets me upset a lot and didn't even read the book for a long time until I pretty much stayed away from her. Did I tell you I work with her and she lives about 10 minutes from me. She has one of those personalities if she isn't happy no one is going to be. I just want to be a good mom and wife with what time I have left on this earth. I just don't know how to do it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.