Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimking
Many know on this board that I don't have RSD, my wife does. I have a simple question for those who have had RSD for years. What percentage of your pain is do to stress? Me, not able to feel this pain, can't even really imagine it, wonders how stress plays into the pain. I've had toothaches and back pain from hard work and know that stress can elevate those issues because of the nerves. My hunch or feeling is stress can increase RSD pain upwards to 50%.
The reason I ask is that my wife and I live in a rat race. And between this rat race and SSDI issue I believe lowering our stress will make for a happier Suzy. I am planning on selling our house of many years regardless whether she receives her benefits or not. We have a choice of leaving this rat race, move to a very quiet place or move to the outer reaches of this rat race.  I feel that I'd need employment quickly so that complicates things, but if her illness is quieted I'd take the risk in a heart beat. Any thoughts anyone?
thanks, jim |
Hi Jim,
I'v been at this for 6 years. Yes, I believe that stress,for me at least, is the biggest inflator of pain. Let me give you an example of what happens with me. When I stress I will begin to feel that burning pain that we all know what that feels like but it will begin to spread to my leg then I know I'm stressed. My RSD is upper extremety and I had a lot of burning prior to my ketamine procedures and only really get a flare like that if I am really stressed out. That is the one big thing ketamine did for me was take away the burning so when is comes back I know I just have to stop, shut the phone off, be quiet my husband kinda of makes a joke, "Moms burning leave her alone", but my children understand what that means. My husband just takes over and my children are 19 and 16 and both are extremely self sufficent, that was one good thing that came out of this nightmare, my children are happy, productive, and responsible but I don't think they would of turned out that way so yound unless they saw what I went throught and how it took me down. At this point we have all adjusted and are living very happly. You wife is lucky for all you support a lot of RSDers don't have that....And it is so important....Go with your gut. I live in a rural area and I think it helps to live a slower pace when I go into NYC by the time I leave I'm like get me out of here. I live about 2 hours northwest of NYC.