Hi stressedout, Those were words of compassion and understanding. It doesn't feel good to be totally understood doesn't it.
I'm sorry you are having some progressive symptoms. Have you checked with your orthopedic hand Dr.? When I started getting feelings of RSD in my right hand, I got started right away in therapy. Physical therapy and massagae therapy. I also did hand therapy 7 days a week at home. I took several plastic bowls and put cotton balls in one, rice in another, coffee grounds in another, sugar, beans, popcorn kernels, Then run fingers, hands thru. Also a small ball between the size of a golf ball and baseball. It feels like a gummy bear ball. It's good tool to keep limb from freezing up.
I have full body RSD and am completely mobile, except left hand-delay in diagnosis and so delay of therapy. Also water therapy is good-water needs to be 86 degrees.
No We aren't the same physically, emotionally, but we can be better in compassion, understanding, an encouragement to others, including our family.
It's difficult to communicate when someone is mad at us because we aren't available to them like we were before. There is a book that helped me express myself in a better way, and also helped me to be able to 'hear' what another person was trying to say. It's a paperback called Life-Skills for Adult Children by Janet Woititz and Alan Garner $8.95
Back to your hand, one of the best ways to keep mobile-keep from freezing up, is to do water therapy. Swimmining, My Toes started curling up and my Dr. got me into water therapy, actually told me what to do in our pool. After 4 months my toes were touching the floor again. Do you have a tens Unit? The Dr. who diagnosed me, order one for my hand. It was frozen flat and he ordered physicall therapy and tens unit. I also did the different bowls at home. and massagea therapy. I'm so grateful I'm mobile. It also desensitizes you, which is very important to be able to stand clothing, being touched etc.
I hope this helps. Your friend, loretta with soft hugs