Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimking
Thanks, Wilbyfree! The side effects that I could see was the spread of RSD from her arms into her legs and feet. Swelling in her hands, knees, red and blue feet and toe nails that now grow out of her feet on a 45 degree angle. Her mental state throughout wasn't good. Many of her earlier doctors focused on her mind instead of her pain. One particular doctor's record reflects this when he states that her psychological issues is effecting her physically. I will say my wife took both lyerica and Cymbalta and it made her feel very bad and stopped using them. Having known my wife for 30 years I can say without a doubt that the pain was effecting her mind, not the otherway around, I am absolutely convinced of this and was the driving force that got me motivated to go to every doctors visit with her.
When my wife first contracted RSD she kept it a secret from me for two years, fearing I may leave her. The first four years she had very little treatment and was ignored by many doctors. Another words her early management of her pain forced her to go to many doctors which opens another can of worms for those with this desease.
|
Jim, I do not find it uncommon to be underdiagnosed and under treated at the beginning stages of this illness. For three years I worked 10 hour days, 2 Vicodin, 1 Zoloft. I suffered immensely from this. I mentally broke down due to the pain. My doctor knew what I had, but did not know how to treat it. He then, just to keep me doing "jumping jacks" prescribed me Valium. (that was a combination). Now they know that if they respond quickly with injections, there is a possible remission. But five, ten years ago they did not know that. Focus on the progressive effects mentally and physically this has had on your wife, the slow decline, the losses that she had to endure and may still have to endure. I was not depressed until the unrelenting pain began to take away all of the things in life that I loved and was working for. We have to make choices, moral choices as to what is really important, we have to make lifestyle changes in order to cope and stay saine. We have very little room for error in our days. Some days we don't even have that. In the winter, I do not leave the house, it is just not possible, that is not a choice for me. And then we have to accept all of this and try to convince ourselves that we are okay. We cannot give something that we don't have.
Best Wishes,
Jeanie