I don't think getting a tattoo is worth the risk. I have one from before I ever got RSD...but especially given that you already have issues with your shoulder and back I don't think it's a good idea. You could also risk getting infections and internal RSD. I mean...it's your life and I don't mean to tell you what to do...it's just that for ME I would never consider anything like that now that I have RSD. Maybe get someone to design a logo for a t shirt or something instead.

It IS a shame though that so many people don't know about RSD. Especially in the medical community...THAT is the one that really bothers me. I hate that you can go into the ER or a doctor's office for something and tell the doctor and/or nurse that you have RSD and they have to ask you what that is. Not just "expand the abbreviation" but they actually don't know ANYTHING about the condition. It's not new or anything...people in the medical field should have at least the most basic knowledge about it. But even more frustrating than the ones who don't know anything at all are the ones who "think" they do and they spout all kinds of misinformation like: "RSD doesn't spread" or "RSD can only be in a hand or foot" or "If a block doesn't take away all your pain then its not RSD"...what the heck? THESE are the people who should be sued for malpractice (in my opinion) because THEY are the ones who are supposed to be helping patients and instead are delaying treatment, causing emotional stress and depression making people think they are losing their minds, etc. It's just downright criminal in my opinion. If you don't know much about RSD then say that...don't make inaccurate statement like they are facts...refer the patient to someone who can actually help them instead.

There are just too many different things out there for most common people to know about all of them...though I think it would be a worthwhile effort to really help people understand that chronic pain (in all its various forms) is not a symptom but a condition all on its own. It's a concept that a lot of people really struggle to understand...pain as a symptom vs pain as the disease/condition itself. Once people are comfortable with that concept and can understand the difference between acute and chronic pain, it would be much easier for them to learn to understand the different levels of pain involved with the specific conditions. That's what I think anyway...finding a way to educate the masses about chronic pain would be the first important step.

Not that I think awareness of RSD isn't important...I just think that the reality of trying to educate people and change there perception is to start with the basics. If more people could really understand the concept of chronic pain first then it wouldn't be such a struggle to help them understand RSD. But when most people think of pain as just a symptom in the sense of acute pain it's just too hard for most to grasp the idea of RSD and what it really means to be in this sort of pain ALL the time...and when they can't wrap their heads around the idea they usually just assume we are exaggerating or making things up (for sympathy or whatever).

Like I've said before...I'm very lucky to be surrounded by supportive family and friends...but I can tell you that experiences with co workers and general aquaintences and the general public is very different. Some people are naturally compassionate and all but you can still see it in their eyes that they just don't understand...at least those people are more inclined to give the benefit of the doubt. But for the rest...they seem to want to think the worst of people even if what they think doesn't really make sense. I mean...really...how completely sick in the head would I have to be to make up this RSD stuff? Walking with a walker, being stuck in a wheel chair, going to all these doctors and getting countless tests run, months and months of physical therapy...all for what exactly? Just to get out of working...does that even make sense considering what I have done just to get myself BACK to work? Just for people to feel sorry for me...what exactly does that get me? Just to get back at people who I don't like...why would THIS be the way to do that exactly since the ones greatest inconvenienced by it all are me and my loved ones? Seriously...do these people even realize how crazy THEY sound? No...because for some reason it is easier for them to think that I am just an awful, terrible, messed up in the head person than it is for them to even TRY to understand this awful condition. Grrrr...

It's frustrating...but not much you can do about the people who are just unwilling to listen. I just take every opportunity I can to educate the people who are willing to at least try and understand. And then maybe somewhere down the line they can help someone else learn and understand...and so on.