Hi All,

I wasn't going to comment on this subject again, it has been bounced around in different ways many times before. But I do agree the less the better and with SBOWLING AND gramE. But there are logical reasons why long term use of opioids will have the opposite effect eventually. Maybe not tomorrrow, not 6 months but it will with all scientific reasoning happen.

I hate to say my doctor is the best RSD Doctor but I do go to one of the best and we have talked so many times in the past about why and how this all works with opioids. And just so everyone understands I have never had a problem getting medications if I said I was in a flare I got what was needed. But I was really watched and I know thats how he does it with all his patients.

As it has been explained to me in simple terms the body gets used to the pain medication because your pain receptors get dull, don't work properly because the opioids are doing the job plus pain receptors are connected to the brain who then tells us we are still in pain so we take more pill and it's a cycle that can lead to serious problems worse than any pain condition can give us. But sometimes we need to use them for extended periods because we are dealing with surgeries, flares, and whatever else comes with having RSD. It took be a long time to get my head wrap around this concept because I just rather stay on the medication it was easier it's much harder to find other modalities to help our pain. But after 7 years of this disorder I honestly do find the less medication the better but this takes time and you have to replace it with whatever works for me it's excercise and I'm not a excercise nut never was. But maybe it's the endurphines that do something but that is the one time I don't feel any pain. It takes me more time then other to do things and I can't do alot of things at the gym but it works.

There is a childrens RSD doctor in PA named Dr. Sherry. When I first felt like I was gettng pain relieve from excercise I started to look around the internet about excercise and RSD and after many searches I came across Dr. Sherry's program and how he uses heavy PT and excercise to reverse the RSD without any meds. The reason this is only done with children is because there body's are less pre-programmed about what pain is all about. He appearently gets great results with his program I know it doesn't work with every child but his percentages are pretty high. I did start to search if there are any facilities trying this on adults and yes there is in Chicago. But from what I here it's very selective on who they take in. The reason for that is that adults are very hard to change and most don't respond. If my life ever settles down I would really love to try and get into that program because I believe there is something connected between PT/excercise and reversing RSD.

I know everyone is saying I can't even walk a block, well I couldn't either. The first day I walked into a gym, which was 4 years ago, they had a trainer help me but I fell right off the treadmill almost hurt myself, was the most out of shape person there, I was so embarressed plus I was hurting. But with the support of my doctor and a trainer which believe me I could not afford at that time, slowly I started to feel the benefits but again it took time. Now I can stay on a eliptical machine for almost 45minutes, I can do certain light weights and my heart rate is great. I'm 49 so the best for me should be about 139 beats per minute. When I started my heart rate was 64 bpm. Do I get lazy and make excuses why I shouldn't go yes, do I still have pain, migraines, pain in my RSD arm, lack of sleep and take opioids when I need them yes. But I am far better off then I was 4 years ago and taking less medication since my nightmare started.

This is just my opinion but from where I was to where I am today is truly amazing, I never thought I would have my life back. This Thanksgiving will be the first holiday I will be cooking,along with my husband, since my accident. I am so excited we'll only be 8 but that's a good number to start with.

Happy Thanksgiving to all...

Gabbycakes