Hey

They don't know a lot of the longterm effects yet but on day 2 and day 5 of each infusion I've had, I've had blood tests (the worst part of the whole thing!) to check liver function etc. My 3rd infusion had to be stopped early because my LFT levels went through the roof, but two weeks later they were back down in the normal range again. They put this to be from the massive doses of antibiotics (both orally and thru iv) I'd had in the few weeks prior to the infusion, rather than to the ketamine. My whole system was just running low. The coma treatment has a lot more risks though, both longterm and shortterm, so thats very different.

Working? No, I haven't worked since this happened in 2000. I do study from home though, via the net. I completed an Human Resources Management course last year and am now doing a general business admin course. It keeps my brain going and I guess I feel I may as well be doing something now, so that when I do (not if, but when!) get on top of this, I can get a more interesting job.

On nerve blocks- I wasn't offered one by my first doctor as I wasn't diagnosed until the 7 month mark and he said they're most effective if done in the first 6 months. My next doctor decided to give it a go anyway, at the 1.5year mark, just because it hadn't been done before and is a pretty standard thing to try, but it didn't help me. I was glad I tried it though, even just so I could rule it out.

But everyone is different with this condition. Just because I don't work, doesn't mean you'll be the same. And a medication that works great for you may not work at all for me. We all want to have some idea of where we're headed in this journey and what to expect but its such a confusing condition in that respect because we all have different experiences. And when it all comes down to it, how we get our rsd, whether via venipuncture or a broken arm etc, is irrelevant in the end. We've just got to deal with what we've been given, research to no end (knowledge is power with rsd!), keep positive and keep our limbs moving as much as possible.

x Kate