Hi heartbeatmom,
I just read you live near Cleveland, Ohio. The Cleveland Clinic is one of the best hospitals in the country. Dr. Schwartzman helps RSD patients out of that hospital. That would be my first phone call. There is another Dr. specializing in RSD, but I don't remember the name. One of the gentlemen on this forum goes to him.
Please don't give up. How many children do you have and what ages? I have one daughter and son in law. They are 30. I'm grateful we had the healthy years together. We played tennis almost dailey, water skiied together, snow skied, traveled. did aerobic exercises together. Now we walk a little, and swim. They moved to Chicago and lived there 15 months. Then moved back, and are living with us for a while. We love them living with us,
From what I've read, almost all RSD is a result of some form of injury, surgery, or heart attack or stroke. For me, physical therapy and massage therapy saved my mobility.
Now that I have it full body, music, scented candles, stretching, swimming, reading, journaling, keeping in touch with friends, tv, bio-feedback, reading are all forms of distraction- takes our mind off burning pain. epson salt baths are helpful. There is a website called rsdrx that is excellent. The Dr. Hooshmand is retired now, but answers lots of questions under the part called puzzles. I hope some of this helps. I've been thinking of taking up numbered painting. Please know we all are here for you. loretta