The earthquake and Irene kicked my BUTT!
 

I live in the Eastern Panhandle of WV about 2 hours west of Washington DC and 3 hours north of the epicenter of last weeks earthquake. I was bedridden for the last four days...Hurricane Irene literally body slammed me and I couldn't walk until late this afternoon. Some days, when the weather is crazy, which has been about every other day this summer, I feel like I am going crazy.

I am trying to get back into my life back by working on my jewelry, which is great therapy and spending time with my friends, something I have not been able to do in about 3 years (it's been that long since I aquired RSD) I am refusing to back down from this monster called RSD. But, I got SUCKER PUNCHED by the horrible pain all over my body this weekend. I am trying to learn to live with it, but some days are so hard and grueling that it makes my head spin.

To those of you who have lived with RSD for years, how have you done it? I am hoping because of my strong character that I can stay stable and not lose it like sooo many people I hear about. I pray for everyone on here and I am asking for your prayers also. :grouphug:

Cindi....

You have my prayers! I m so sorry for your sucker punch pain due to this nasty weather! I have lived with RSD now for 5 years... It is a daily battle..the first thing I think about when I awake each day... But I like you..refuse to cave to this disease.... I take it each day at a time...I try not to worry about tomorrow and I have to let go of yesterday...and each new day is a gift... Some days I'm feeling so happy hearted and other days...I'm sad... So you are not alone...I m sure of one thing...RSD is not meant for anyone who is weak..weak emotionally...heart and soul...

Bless you... And know that we all care about you...weeze family!!

Hugz, Kathy

Thank you for what you just said. CRPS is not for the weak.....that gives me so much strength as I can't stop crying. The reality of this has hit me and I can't stop crying.
:grouphug:

You are so right, Kathy, RSD is not for the weak. I am really sick and tired of blaming my pain on the weather. This evening, my leg started with the painful skin deal. That is one of the symptoms that I really loathe and there is no relief from it. It looks like I won't get any sleep tonight because as we well know it goes on and on and we never know when it will end. I have just started asking for meds for breakthrough pain because it just constantly eats at my brain. Even though I have never considered taking my own life because of the pain, I can see why some people who don't have a support system or ways to occupy their time, kill themselves.

We all HAVE to reach out when we need help. I have said this hundreds of times, if I had not found this board when I did I would have lost my mind! There is always someone one here who is willing to give feedback or a shoulder to cry on. My neurologist had a fit when I told him I joined this board. He said that my symptoms would get worse because I would hear other's stories and develop them. This is sooo far from the truth. If I hadn't joined this board I wouldn't know what was going on with my leg and the spreading to my opposite arm. I am really not thrilled with any neurologist right now because they say one thing and do the other!

Hang in there. I have been praying for all you that have been in immense more pain because of the weather and stuff. Ever since I heard you have been in my prayers for strength, comfort, and more comfort, and pain relief, and some rest. Hang in there!!!

Annah

I know exactly how you feel. I could get a job as a weather predictor. Ha ha
My RSD (Four years now) really flares up when rainy or cold weather is on the way. Then during a rain or snow storm, forget it! This monster I live with also does a number on my emotional state too.
Now it's spreading into my leg and already is being complicated by my degenerative cerebral atrophy so I'm in a wheelchair a lot because my balance is effected. Luckily my neurologist knew of this possibility and prescribed one.
I guess all we can do is learn and do our best to live with it.
Best of luck to you...

down and obviously out
 

Cindi,

Thanks for your reply to Kathy, I live on the eastern shore and weather has always been a big factor on my foot. Stress is another one. Unfortunately, this past week I have had both and found the coldness going from my foot to my knee and my other one is begining to ache. After speaking with my attorney 1st thing this am, and he confusing me even more, I thought it would be easier just to cut my foot off, so everyone could see the pain and leave me alone.
Anita

We have a thread about amputation, and how the pain will still be there...:(
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread133800.html

Hang in there he best you can, someday there might be a miracle fix. :grouphug:

Anita,
Amputation is not the answer. As Jo*mar is telling you the pain still is there.
Sometimes I think the same thing about my useless painful left arm. After realizing that it is what it is I just play my piano one handed and live with it. As hard as it is at times...

I realize amputation is not the answer, but people just don't get it. I lucked out and have a great pain doctor. But no one else seems to get it because all my parts are still there, not like an amputation, where people see for themselves and then can picture how painful it is. I get so frustrated and ****** off.

No, I get it. It's like when my wife can't understand me sitting in the hot sun on a 90 deg day wrapped in a winter coat and shivering because I'm freezing. Or even a breeze from a ceiling fan causes my arm to burn. I could go on but you get my point. Who else can understand us but us?

Hugz for all....! I'm so appreciative of your posts and if I can shed a ray of painless, warm light to touch everyone, I would..it would serve a reminder that we will get thru this..we will get thru another day..and on the days, when our hearts are on the floor and we just can't see past the pain.... Then it's time to take it one minute at a time and wait until the sun rises again tomorrow because, I promise...things will look different...Our emotions are such a big part of our pain...try to never be too hard on ourselves and expect too too much as our lives have taken a turn...and it is scary ... And if there is one thing we can be sure is we are not defined by RSD ...we are only defined by what is in our hearts and souls...life is precious... Stay strong and sturdy...most of all....you are never alone in your fight...we have each other!!

Hugz for a restful night....

Kathy

Hurricane Irene, speechless
 

Hope all that where effected by Hurricane Irene are coping the best you can. My deepest sympathies are with you and hope life is getting back to normal.
I live in a rural part of NJ, just on the border of PA and NY State about 65 miles directly north of the GW Bridge. We got hit very badly I don't want to say it was unexpected but its was suppose to stay more east. Lost power for about 36 hours, had to prepare because we where being told 1-3 days for power to return but it came on at 12PM Monday. We life in the woods with very large old trees that came down like dominos, what a creepy sound. Thank god nothing hit our house, but it was a hectic few days. We still have highways closed due to flooding so getting around is a nightmare.

I have to tell you I have been pretty under control with my RSD but this weekend forget it. I think someone said RSD is not for the "weak", boy if that's not a true statement. I think someone stated about the ceiling fan, I can not let my RSD side face the ceiling fan when I'm trying to sleep I will get a migraine very quickly. My body feels not so much pain but so fatigued. I was at work yesterday I thought I was going to scream from fatigue. Today I'm going to try and get myself together maybe go the the gym and just try and stretch it all out.

Thanks for listening I hope everyone gets back to normal.

Gabbycakes

Wow Gabbycakes!

I didn't know you are able to work. Good for you!!!! I am hopeful that I will get well enough to go back to work.

The hurricane was not kind to Maryland's Eastern Shore either. No big deal though. Damage to the house, falling trees, power outages, and general mayhem, that's what hurricanes do and we expected it. I was fortunate that I was warned by both my doctor and fmichael of the potential effects of the hurricane on CRPS so I was prepared for that. Positive attitude and lack of catastrophic thinking always makes a huge difference on CRPS pain.

Hope everybody is doing better and finding joy in every day!!!!

Thanks ballerina, I only work 2 or 3 days a week. It's beyond theraputic even some days like yesterday when I want to scream. But I work independantly so I can make my own hours and my clients are very understanding as long as the work gets done.

I did not think this storm would effect my RSD as it did. I have not felt like this in at least 3 years. But as I said I'm going to try and get it together today, no stress hopefully, just kind of rest.

I truly appreciate you thoughts. Hope all are doing well.

Gabbycakes

Gabbycakes,
Keep the hatches battened down. You might be in for another one.

I am still in pain...I am thinking that it's a plain old flare...but we have had a lot of much need rain. This weekend we have a lot to do, so I am hoping I make it through!

I heard Jim. I don't even want to think about it. We still have people without power, by best friend who lives in Bergen County, NJ got water to the first floor of her house, her basement was completely under water. It's really a mess. My phone and internet have been up and down all week and ofcourse when you call you get 52 different reasons why, they want you to do trouble shoot and then you find our after you spend 4 hours on the phone that it's just another outage. I quess I shouldn't complain there are so many people worse off the I. But this all gets old quick. Oh, and the generators it now becoming like chinese water torture, thats all you hear around here.

I am just starting to feel better but now my back is giving me problems. I hate to complain but I just can't believe after feeling so good for so long I feel like I'm 80. I haven't felt great all summer due to the humidity, have only been to the gym 3 times but walk every day. I have to get back to a routine.


Hope all is well.

Gabbycakes

Gabbycakes,
You're not complaining. You're venting. This is the place. We all understand better than anyone how this monster effects us.
Just having a place to come to with understanding people helps...

Yesterday we had a thunderstorm here in northern VA that stayed put for 4 hours straight. A constant downpour that I've never witnessed in my 54 years. Our basement flooded for the first in the 14 years we've been here, and did I mention our house sits on a hill? and it still floods. Earthquakes, hurricanes and now the longest thunderstorm on record, what's next a twister, perhaps a swarm of locust? I'm not even going to mention the terrorist threat that's going on now in our area. And poor Suzy is in agony with all of these storms etc..:mad: