I've had puzzling appts like that, where you come out of the office and don't know what happened...I always reckon the doctor didn't have the time to see me properly and hope it'll be better next round...

Working? Ah. Well, for a start my RSD isn't nearly as bad as many people here have it; it has confined itself to my left wrist/hand (I'm right-handed) and in the last year has "plateau'd". The one thing that really made a difference was discovering that I simply can't take Neurontin in the "prescribed" manner, I'm very sensitive to it - it works well, but completely knocks me out at high doses, feel completely stoned like I've smoked several joints (quite nice, but forget it... )

So I take a very low dose - up to 600mgs pd, but I split the capsule, dissolve it in water and take very small amounts frequently through the day, then a double dose at night. This works very well for me, and pushes the pain into the background; I do get woken up at night, I take half a zopiclone, and great care arranging my bed - pillows, etc...but still wake up often. Then lots of coffee in the morning, don't care if I shouldn't, I neeeeeeeed it!!

At the moment the RSD is really behaving itself.... I have RSI in my right hand and arm which is a bigger problem at present, plus cervical neck bone problems. Also arthritis, specially in my fingers (gone crooked). Most of the pain-killers I take right now are to help with the RSI, and to help with a permanent headache...mechanical problems from the neck ...

Know what? If anyone had told me before that you can get used to pain I wouldn't have believed them. But it's true, for me - as I said, though, my levels are usually under control - for now. Get flare-ups every now and then.

Also, I work from home. My work has always been very much a part of my life. If I live, I work...I'm doing designs for sculptures at the moment (which I absolutely love doing) - mostly on computer. Just walking the dog, I'll see something - shape of a tree, or rock, and think - oh, I can use that - so everything I do is kind of work.

Other thing is that, not to put too fine a point on it, I have no money at all. I *have to* work or my rent won't get paid. Literally. Necessity is a powerful motivator.

I don't think too far down the road...too worrying to do that, and pointless. I'm doing as much as I can to help myself right now (not enough, but still) and next year...who knows?? Not me; I live for now, and right now I *can* still work, painful though it is. It would be just as painful if I didn't work..I think working keeps my mind off the pain. What is harder to cope with are the meetings with clients etc, I try to keep them to a minimum - I'm getting very reclusive in my old age.

But, my legs still work well, my brain's fine if memory would just shape up a bit, still got a few good working parts of me...life goes on and as I said, for me, life and work are completely entwined. Yeah...life goes on...what can you do?

all the best!