Hi, all!

My name is Kerry and I'm 23 years old. When I was 13, in 2000, I was diagnosed with RSD in my left foot. At the time, I was the 2nd pediatric in the state of Maine (where I grew up) to be diagnosed with it, since it was so uncommon 10 years ago for kids to have it! It all began while training for my cross country team in high school, all I did was twist my ankle, and then all hell broke loose!

After a few years of tried and failed treatments and medications, I finally went into remission in 2003. I was able to get back to most of the things that I loved to do prior to my diagnosis. In 2006, I had a remission, and was able to get it treated almost immediately. By 2007 I was back into remission, and thought things were going great. Last June (2009) I was working with a client and she kicked me and broke my ribs. My RSD has since spread to my chest, and I have yet to get any treatment that works, which is so frustrating! I'm working on getting into new doctors, since I have moved away from my neurologist that I had been with for 9years.

I try to keep a smile on my face, while trying to block out the fact that every breath I take reminds me of the fact that I have RSD, and that it has spread away from my foot. I'm trying to get through graduate school, but it's going very slowly, as it is difficult to get up in time for class, and difficult to stay awake long enough to study each day.

Here's hoping for new and better treatments out there that will come our way soon!