Dear Mom of 4,

I hurt myself at work over 3 years ago. My RSD started in my shoulder but spread first to my neck and head, and then to other parts of my body last winter - I had a terrible time with my feet - they burned like crazy and it hurt to walk on them.

I typically walk at least 3 miles, and sometimes as much as 6 miles, each day. We have a group of dog walkers in my neighborhood that make it a point to get together each morning - exercising with friends is much better than exercising alone. Keep moving, no matter how much it hurts. All last winter when I walked my feet would hurt at first and then just go numb. Sometimes the swelling was so bad it looked like I had a sprained ankle.

Now I only wear Crocs (my former PT may have told me to do that, can't remember..?). Croc aren't as tight as sneakers, plus they are really light. I think they have made a big difference in how my feet feel. I like the monmouth crocs and the woolly monmouth crocs - both of them are fur lined which makes them warm and really comfortable. There are a few newer lines out this year that are pretty cute - check out Amazon, they are sometimes on sale and have free shipping. I've seen them at Marshalls, too.

I've also had four lidocaine infusions. They have definitely helped in areas where I had spread- my right leg used to bother me ALL the time. And now it is much, much better (even though it is still swollen and ugly, IMHO). My feet are better too this year so far, I really hope they stay this way through the winter.

All the best to you, and Happy Thanksgiving. XOXOX Sandy