Sometimes normality is realising and accepting that there are new boundaries that weren't there before the RSD and the pain.

I wouldn't say I'm jumping for joy about the amount of things I have lost.. but, I have learnt that thre are other ways to try and compensate for the RSD and pain. YES I still think this is all unfair, YES I absoloutly hate it. But being 21 I am likely to have years of pain and disability ahead of me, and I REFUSE to spend my whole life stuck in the house in bed.

Changing to try and accept that just because I WANT (desperately) to be normal it doesn't mean that I will become normal - in fact the frustration and stress usually end up making me worse... I am incredibly lucky to have a very supportive group of friends who have accepted me and who understand my limitiations.. It's bizzare, but through them understanding, it means that I can do so much more - as they are all there to help me if I need it.

I can no longer do the activities I loved doing, but new things have opened up. I now write articles, do small bits of media stuff and help to teach about disability. I am a full time student and am lucky to have brilliant mates - who don't mind hanging in my room with me in bed if I can't sit up for a while.

I am luckier than a lot of you. I have 24 hour care and support as well as brilliant friends and some cool technology. This means that more of my energy can go on studying and doing stuff instead of on concentrating on trying to get out of bed, dress myself or worry about cleaning the house or going shopping. Also, in some ways because my level of disability is very obvious it means I rarely have to deal with other people saying such useful things as "but it's ONLY pain etc".

That's just my thoughts on normality and RSD..

Love

Frxxxx