I need to vent...I am so frustrated! My husband and I were intimate Thursday night and I have been in so much pain since I can hardly stand it. I haven't been able to sleep all night because of the increased pain. We have been married for almost 23 years and have always had a very healthy, pleasing sex life. In Nov. 2006 I was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS after more than two years of symptoms. Initially it was just in my right arm/shoulder and did not affect our sex life significantly. In Feb/March 2008 the RSD/CRPS began to spread and now affects both arms/shoulders, my chest wall, neck, and spine (basically everywhere a long-sleeved turtle-neck shirt would cover) as well as some internal organs (most noticeably my stomach and heart). We use to make love on an average of 1-2 times a week. Now we are lucky if we have sex once a month because I am in so much pain for up to a week afterward. We have tried positioning and pillows but neither have helped. I sleep in a recliner because I am unable to lay down without excruciating pain. I miss lying next to my husband and I miss the intimacy of making love to him. Luckily my husband is very understanding and does not put any pressure on me. But I know he must feel as lost as I do at times. We remain close otherwise and are still best of friends but I still long for the closeness we use to share and now are unable to. It's not enough that this disease has robbed me of my career (I was a Registered Nurse certified in Oncology and am now disabled), my health, friendships, and my ability to preform even the simplest of household tasks...why did it have to rob me of this too? It's so unfair!!!
Cricket