Ginnie - thank you for your kind words and support. I am doing a lot of praying hoping for a good outcome from the injections.

Hi Sally,

I'm not sure I know what a "normal" life IS. Somewhere along the journey, possibly/probably feeling somewhat like what you expressed, it occured to me that I have never had what I spoze most people would consider a "normal life". This isn't just due to mishaps (medical and/or otherwise) but also alternative lifestyle, various life choices, and other factors I needn't go into here.

Looking back, and anticipating forward, I choose to think of my life -- our life (DW & self) together -- as an extraordinary life, the definition of which is whatever I/we choose it to be!

The challenges we (all of us) face may be far from those we would EVER choose (not to mention the outcomes), but of the things we can control and the things we cannot control, I believe how we view our own lives falls within the former.

Doc

A physiatrist is a doctor who specializes in physical medicine, rehabilitation and pain management.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physica...rehabilitation

http://www.aapmr.org/patients/aboutp...ysiatrist.aspx

When I was recovering from a car accident nearly 10 years ago and had obvious signs of some sort of nerve problems, my primary doctor sent me to the physiatrist. He figured out the problem right away and handled my care by sending me to the appropriate specialists.

hello from Florida. I was the one who is seeing a physiasist. I found this kind of by accident in looking for a new pain specialist. I had no choice but to look for a new doctor at the time. Found a really caring individual, and low and behold, some new methods of dealing with my pain. I have suppliments now, and take B12 shots, and I have a lotion for RSD in my foot and ankle that works pretty good actually. Mixed by a pharmacy. My hair due to alopecia, dropped out 30 years ago, and comes and goes. By golly, it is coming back again, though grey. I am 60 so it should be, Also my nails were terrible and peeling. They are better too. Pain is being controlled, and I am a bit more active, though if I over do it, I pay a price. This type of physician is worth looking into. I selected her out of 4 doctors, my pharmasist actually knows about. My pharmasist knows me so well, he gave me an inside scoop on who he thinks may be a good doctor, and those that lets say, may have a bit of a bad reputation. Ask your primary about this kind of doctor, and see what he or she says. I do wish you all the best. ginnie

Doc,

You're right. "Normal" is pretty subjective. It's tough to find your way when so much is coming at you at once. I know what I want but I also have learned that I have to make many compromises because I can't have things exactly as I would like them. First and foremost, I need to get these immediate health concerns under better control. Hopefully my nerve block and RFA procedures will set me on the course to do that. Once the pain is under better control, I hope to get back into 'life'. One step at a time.

I read somewhere a long time ago...."Normal is a setting on a hair dryer" ginnie

Have you got/read The Intractable Pain Patient's Handbook for Survival?

Doc

No, I haven't read this before. Just finished skimming it and will read it more thoroughly over the weekend. Thank you.

Dr. Tennant has written many articles and publications for CP patients and their families. Many can be found on his website and on Practical Pain Management.

Doc

I wanted to thank you again for this resource. The articles are very eye opening. Dr. Tennant's assertion that in some patient's the body fails to adapt to the chronic cycle of pain, which causes imbalance..." As a result, homeostasis is severely disturbed in all aspects resulting in abnormal default settings for emotions, immunity, hormone balance, thought, and memory." Wow. I know that I have definitely suffered from short-term memory problems, decreased ability to concentrate, and hormonal problems that are otherwise unexplained since my pain has gotten progressively worse in the last year. I'm only 42 and the doctors insist that I am not peri menopausal. I thought it might be related to the chronic pain but I didn't know for sure. It's not a pretty picture but at least Dr. Tennant's work offers that there is a scientific, rationale explanation as to why this may be occurring.