Ada -- so nice to hear from you!

I was sorry to hear all that you had gone through with your ex-son-in-law, hopefully that is all behind you now and he is out of your lives.

What stuck out for me, in your post, was that you too, were under stress at the time of initial injury/time of RSD onset. I truly believe it very well is a contributing factor in the complex situation....

Even knowing the first time RSD was documented (injured soldiers during war) ... well, can't think of anyone/anywhere who is under more stress than a soldier during combat: their 'fight or flight' system must be on mega over-drive = combine that with a physical injury = seems like the perfect recipe for RSD.
If this is the case, it seems scientists should be doing more research on this aspect. Clearly they will never fully be able to best determine *if* there could be a cure for this condition, until they fully understand *what* RSD is, and fully *what* causes RSD to happen.

In the meantime I guess I will stick with my breathing exercises: I really have found them to be amazing in slowing down the pain levels (it's really the only way I can get myself to sleep at night to be quite honest). I don’t take methadone – but do take narcotics: oxycodone (time released), roxicodone (not time released), as well as anti-inflams and meds in the anti-seizure family. I believe all to be a fairly common “cocktail” mix for RSD patients, and/or other chronic pain patients of various unspecific varieties.

Again, thank you for answering me – it was very nice to read your thoughts!