Hi Mollymcn,

I'm sorry you have RSD too. I have full body, 12 years now. Finally have a great Dr. that has explained a lot to me. He is a Neurologist, Psychiatrist, and Pharmacologist. I see him monthly for pain management.

Yes, RSD affects parts of the brain. One part is the Limbic System that controls emotions, (depression) decision making process. I know many of us have slowness of speech,grasping for words, short term memory loss. I know with the continuous pain, wears on a person. I feel shortness of patience and sometimes crying hard. It took me a very long time to accept the losses this disorder brings. I missed so much my life before RSD. Now I concentrate on being grateful for the things I can do. The pain is really bad, especially in a flare. I've had my first round of lesions this month-not fun.

My plan now is tryng hyberbaric treatments and nerve blocks. Ketamine infusion. Did you read about the lady that went to Florida for blocks? I had already read about that Dr. and was thinking of going. Insurance is a big issue for me.

I hope this helps you. I know just knowing there are medical reasons for what is going on with us helps me. understanding the lapses in memory, and searching for words, not remembering recent conversations etc. If I don't write it down, it's gone. I hope the best for you. Let us know how you are please. How long have you had RSD and when did you get diagnosed. It was four years for me to get diagnosed. It came the day following breast biopsy. Got swollen arm and frozen shoulder. Started physical therapy, had 100 painful treatments to get my range of motion back. Then it went to other shoulder and more therapy, then went to hand, misdiagnosed all this time. Then went to orthopedic hand specialist and he recognized it in a minute, followed up by tests to confirm. Didn't get my hand back to full use, it's like a claw. Anyway I work hard at keeping moving, feet etc. Water therapy and swimming is really good. We have a pool-live in the southwest.

Let us know how you are. It really helps to have support here with so many caring fellow rsders. We understand what it's like and that means so much, when even loved ones who love us can't quite understand what we go thru. Take care, Loretta Jewell