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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,785
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,785
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I came to the realization a long time ago that for myself...there is no magic pill that will take away my pain. Instead...I focused on regaining function...which meant finding things that helped "enough" to get me back to living my life. I have a bunch of things that help a little...just a very little...but added up give me just enough relief to be able to work, care for my daughter, go out, make dinner, etc. It's quite frankly exhausting doing all these small treatments and tricks regularly...but the alternative for me is being miserable, in pain, and couch bound with nothing to do but think about how much pain I am in. Regaining the function and taking back some part of my previous life makes it a lot easier to cope with this awful pain.
Here's my list of things that I use:
1. Hot baths with epsom salts every day...sometimes twice a day on bad days.
2. Ultrasound treatments on any flare up areas or where the pain is the worst.
3. TENS unit on my ankle (initial RSD site) when I know I'm going to be on my feet a lot.
4. Four Fs diet...I am not super strict but there is a noticeable rise in pain levels if I stray too far from it.
5. Quell pain relief device (just started using this a month ago and it helps)
6. TDCS treatments (I did these daily for a while and now do once a month maintenance treatments)
7. I wear gloves to get stuff out of the fridge, if I might possibly touch anything cold, and always when I go out even in summer to prevent flare ups.
8. I wear a scarf for the same reasons.
9. I have a play list on my ipod and earbuds to help when there are noises that flare up the RSD or if I'm in a flare up.
10. I weigh and measure just about every activity I do because over the last few years I have learned just how much I have in me before the pain reaches the point of flare up...it's important to know your limits but takes a while to really get a handle on the balancing act...and it doesn't take much to throw it out of whack...
11. GET SLEEP...this is so key...find some way to get at least 6 hours of solid sleep a night because it makes a HUGE difference in my ability to cope with pain (tDCS treatments did this for me)
12. Use any and all assistive devices needed to make going out and functioning possible regardless of Your age or pride...I use a walker and have since I was 26 now because of my RSD. Gives me a place to sit, a way to carry things, helps with my balance, takes weight off my legs, and keeps me from getting bumped into as people give me much more space than if I am just using a cane or nothing at all...life changer.
13. I keep moving...always...even when resting and laying down I do ankle exercises and hand exercises...simple stuff but if I stop and hold something for example my hands can become frozen and locked where I can't move them and the pain is excruciating. PT exercises that I could do at home were and still are key to regaining and keeping the fuction I've gotten back.
This is what has worked for me. I still have terrible pain...but I work full time, had a baby last year, and have regained a semi normal life. Its not the same as it was before...I have huge limits on what I can do and it takes every ounce of energy every day to keep it up...but it's worth it. I am not my RSD and I won't let it ruin my life.
I hope you are able to find the right doctor who can help you. There are lots of treatments out there...unfortunately none that were right for me so I had to take a different approach to everything. Maybe some of those things I mentioned can help you...none help a lot with the pain...but it all helps a little...just enough to make it possible for me to live my life...
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