Well...it's been a while since I posted an update about my progress but thought it might be worth sharing now that I have a few moments to myself to write it all out.

I've been back at work for almost 3 months now. It was shaky at first, very hard, but my body adapted to it and I figured out how to do the various things and get my work done. Even once I was adapted to things I was still pretty drained by the end of the day but I'm getting stronger and adapting to those increased pain levels and now most days I feel like I can stil function pretty normally once I get home and go about my normal routines. I'm still able to water the plants in the yard, take the dog out, cook dinner, etc.

That said...I honestly felt like I had really leveled off in terms of the benefits of the tDCS. My sensitivity has stayed about the same in the rest of my body...pain levels didn't seem noticeably different...still need the walker because my balance is not great, etc. I still do one treatment a day (two was just too much with the number of hours I work) but I wasn't seeing any great strides from where I was at beyond my adjusting to work and losing weight (not to pre-RSD levels but definitely some with all the physicality of work).

But I have still been pushing myself, especially while at home to walk without the walker as much as I can stand (which wasn't much). I mostly confined my efforts to the kitchen and the bathroom since those two rooms are so small that there is no "middle" of the room where I'm even outside of reach of a counter or table or whatever.

Well...two weeks ago I had landscapers come to our house and create a whole bunch of new flower beds. I found a good sale of perrennials for $1 that week and bought 20 to plant in there (I also bought more to plant this week that are being delivered Monday but that's not really important). Anyway...they are planted around the edges of our yard which is pretty good size. For the past week I have walked around the yard to water them with the watering can WITHOUT MY WALKER! I'm still wobbly and have to be very careful...but I can DO it. Hurts like all get out and I usually need to rest for at least 10 minutes after...but 2 months ago there is no way I could have done this. I am so proud of myself.

Just goes to show I think, that at least in my case, that the committment to keep going with treatments (physical therapy and tDCS) even when you think they're not doing much anymore can really pay off. Improvements for me have been terribly slow and gradual...but if I can get myself even to the point of not needing the walker at least at home I will be so very happy. Out of the house I don't know that I will ever be able to go without it...but who knows?

Important to note...the PAIN really hasn't improved much outside of the reduced sensitivity in my hands and arms. I have just come to accept that it is a part of my life now and I'm not letting it take me down. I use all my tricks for managing the pain every day without fail and have learned what I need to do in order to avoid the worst triggers. I will also honestly say that I don't KNOW whether the physical therapy I do myself or the tDCS or my return to work is the reason for my latest improvements...but I would be inclined to think that it is a mix of all three as they are all part of my treatment plan and all contribute at least a little to my gradual successes and improvements.