New member - screwballpookie
 

Hellyearsao! My name is Tracy and I am new to this community or any as far as that goes. I have never done anything like this before. I was diagnosed with rsd in 2005, but got hurt in 2002. It took all the doctors 3 years to finally diagnose me with rsd. I sustained a severe twist to my dominant hand, which is my left hand, and have had pain ever since. I worked from April of 2002 until October 2003 when I brought permanent restrictions in under worker compensation and that was the day they said see ya! I worked at that place for about 7 years. That is all I knew how to do was factory work. It was a tough deal for me to go through. It still is a struggle for me. I am only 34 years old and feel my life has been turned completely upside down. I am married and have one daughter. I have no one that I can talk to about this because they don't understand. I have been dealing with this pain for so long and know that I have to for the rest of my life, but it is not easy. It has spread up into my shoulder and has started in my right hand. There are some days I wish I could just rip my left arm off and be done with it, but I know that won't help. There are also days I wish I could just die, but I know I have an 11 year old daughter that needs me so I will never go through with it. It is just very hard to deal with.

screwballpookie

Welcome!

I'm also somewhat new, but it's really the best place for you to go because all of us are dealing with pain from RSD. All of us understand how horrible this is.

I received RSD from surgery done in 04. I was just diagnosed in February of this year. It's very frustrating when there's nothing they can do.

Tell us more! What kind of therapy are you on or have had results from? What medications? Are they helping?

Welcome, glad you found us here. I have benefited greatly from reading posts and searching when I have questions. When that doesn't help and I need a kind word, I post and get much support. I hope you find that here also.

I have been implanted with a spinal cord stimulator in December 2006 and am currently taking trazadone 50 mg at night for sleep. I am also being weened off of cymbalta 60 mg once a day since I have been implanted with the stimulator. I have one week left of 30 mg cymbalta and I will be done taking that. I started my stimulator at .80 in December and have had to turn it up to 1.10-1.20. I can't leave it on 1.20 constantly because I get a burning feeling in my arm. The doctors had me go through about 8 months of physical therapy with little success. I just live a day to day life with pain even though some days I just wish I could go back in time and change what happened. I know I can't, but it sure would be nice. It has turned my life completely upside down. I can't go out and do everything I use to do and that is a very hard thing to live with.

screwballpookie

How do you make it through everyday without giving up? Some days I don't even feel like doing anything,just sitting around being lazy. Is that normal? Yes I have had this disease for about 5 years but just found out I had it about 2 years ago. I am reading books about rsd even though the doctor reccomends that I don't. I feel that the more I know the less surprised I will be if something new happens and the less likely I will be to shove myself back into depression. Am I thinking right or am I just crazy? Also thanks !

Tracy

:welcome_sign: Welcome here, Tracy! :hug:

I know the feeling. The hopeless feeling like you are going to give up. Have you thought about counseling for the RSD? Some days I don't feel like getting up and out of bed, let alone walking and doing things. It's hard! Hang in there, don't give up, and try to move your joints to keep them functioning and from atrophy.

I know how hard it is to keep moving, and participating like a normal person. You just have to try. Be strong, and do your best. Some days you'll pay for doing just the simplest things by more pain. But you have to control the pain, the pain can't control you!

Here's a thread I started on RSD/ counseling: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=22943

My old doctor didn't want me to do any research. Why? Because she felt that psychologically I would perceive pain in the pain free areas. I ignored her, because I felt that when I am reading and researching RSD I feel like I have a grip on things and that I am able to cope, knowing exactly what is happening and what could happen.

HUGE PAIN FREE HUGS xxxxxxxxxx

:hug: :hug: :hug:

Hi screwballpookie.

I wanted to welcome you here. I have also had RSD from 2002, but I now have it full body.

This disease is terribly unfair - and it sounds like you have come to the boards for the same reason I did - because I knew I needed people who understood what I live with every day in a way that my friends and family can't. And this lot are really great about this - everyone understands what this is like to live with and can give support and tips and stuff like that.

I got RSD in my dominant arm and it was pretty tough to deal with.

I guess I have found that as I have gone down hill I value good times so much more - every day has something good - even if it is only my dog smiling at me, or a friend coming over, or a good mark on my work or, well, anything good really! But there are days when it is hard to motivate myself to do anything..

Love and welcome to the boards!!

Frogga xxxxxxxxx

How long did it take for yours to spread in your whole body if I may ask,frogga? Is it something that can happen to me? Will it eventually take over my body as well? So far it has only gone from my left hand into my left shoulder and started in my right hand. One thing I have noticed since I have been diagnosed with rsd is that the circulation through my entire body is very poor. Is that normal?

Tracy