[lindsay_marie]

Hey everyone! My name is Lindsay and I'm 23 years old and I'm a college student. I'm currently studying social work with a minor in psychology and will graduate with my Bachelor in Social Work next year in April. I plan to get my Masters and work as a medical social worker. I love to sing, dance, act, read, write, hang out with my boyfriend, family, and friends.

I'm here because I'm currently undergoing treatment at the Cleveland Clinic and my neurologist thinks I might have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. He believes that my RSD was caused by my DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) aka a blood clot that I developed in my leg when I was 20 in August of 2010. The DVT was caused by May Thurner Syndrome, a rare but curable disease. I was diagnosed with May Thurner Syndrome in June of 2011. The DVT has done some damage to my veins. After my MTS diagnosis, I was great until December of 2011, when I was in a car accident and the pain started again. I saw more doctors and more hospitals than I care to admit. Thankfully, my pain is being successful controlled through Lyrica and a sympathetic nerve block that I had last month. The RSD diagnosis isn't official because I underwent a special punch biopsy at the Cleveland Clinic that is only done in a few other hospitals in the United States. The biopsy was done on August 5th and it takes 4-6 weeks to get the results back. Until the biopsy gets back, my doctor can't make an official diagnosis.

Throughout all of this, I've had the support of my amazing family and friends. God has blessed me with their support. Despite the pain, I've still done well in school and have made the Dean's List a few times! I still lead a very busy life filled with school, work, and many other things. Now that my pain is being controlled, my life is so much better. The pain that I've experienced was awful, awful, awful, awful!! It would leave me crying hysterically despite having multiple pain medications in my body. It wasn't until I started taking Lyrica that my life changed and the pain began to be controlled. I'm not 100% pain free. I still can't lie on my left side or my back for long periods of time without ice. However, considering a few short months ago, when sitting in a chair for more than 30 minutes would cause terrible pain, I can definitely say I've made progress!

I can't wait to meet all of you and am glad to be here!

[Darlene]

Lindsay,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please, just let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Looks like you have found the RSD, there are some wonderful friends there to help you.

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[lindsay_marie]

Thank you so much for your kind welcome!

[Hopeless]

Hi Linday Marie,

Congrats on your accomplishments and best wishes on your future endeavors. Glad to hear you have found some relief. College can be difficult on its own and having pain with it is more than one needs to handle at once. Luckily I was pain free when I was in college so I can't imagine what you have gone through. I am lucky my pain waited until later in life. Glad to have you here.