Hi Bitty,
Welcome to the RSD family.
I have had pain all my life from a birth defect. RSD came with the hip replacement in 1999. (needed it from birth defect) I was only out of work for 3 yrs and just had to go back pain or not. I was going crazy at home. Belive me working was extremly painful and some days I thought the pain would kill me. But at the time, I refused to let this thing called RSD win. In 2005 the pain got to me. I remember driving home crying all the way. I wanted to find a tree I could hit so that I could end it all. So people can work with RSD. They work harder than anyone else because of the pain. I've lost alot to RSD. the use of my foot, more pain in my hip than before the hip replacement, my house. But what I miss the most is working. Feeling like I am doing something, being "normal". God Bless all of you that are still working. I know its not easy.

Sue K