My rsd started from a blood test in my right arm 6 years ago. The nurse put the needle in too far, damaging the median nerve. I did the rounds of medications etc over the years, have had lots of highs and lows, and thankfully I had a lull long enough to be able to have another baby (my third, a son called Dayne).

I've had three ketamine infusions. (7 day awake treatments) The first giving me pain relief lasting 30 days, the second lasting 10 months. During this ten months I was able to fall pregnant and have baby #4- Hannah, now 8 months old. But while I was pregnant (about 5 months) I was bitten by a spider on my leg, and before I knew it my rsd had spread to there as well. Being pregnant, I couldn't take any meds and struggled thru the rest of the pregnancy. The first infusion also did away with 70% of my allodynia, which was fantastic. It doesn't hurt me so much now when my kids touch my arm or hand.

I had another ketamine infusion when Hannah was 12 weeks old, but unfortunately it didn't help the pain in my arm or leg, and it was stopped early due to raised LFT levels in my liver. Since then I've had to just go back on my previous medications while I'm waiting to see my pain specialist. The symptoms have spread quickly through my foot (of course breaking my toe in December 06 didn't help ) and up my leg and life is tricky right now. I can't take my breakthru meds anymore (endone) because I chuck them up everytime. Hopefully I can see my dr soon and get something working for me.

I'm now 29 and have four kids under 9 who I adore. We live just north of Sydney, Australia and my husband is carer for me and the kids, so we're all together nearly all of the time- which is one of the good things to come out of this!

x Kate