Hi Guys- this one's for adults only!

I've created a poll to get some idea of what kind of effect CRPS has on our relationships (particularly our sex lives), as CRPS infiltrates every part of our lives. I know that, for some of you, this will seem WAY too personal so I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by putting this out there. Please feel free to skip to the next post! I know it's a taboo area but I like to think we're all friends and we can talk about our CRPS here in ways we can't anywhere else.

Should you wish to respond, the poll results are anonymous

I've had CRPS for 9 of the 14 years my husband and I have been together and it's like having a third person in our marriage. I know CRPS can definitely be a marriage breaker- I wouldn't blame my husband if he left because this life is so hard, but thankfully he's able to see that I'm still in here somewhere and am worth sticking around for

One thing I struggle with is that, for instance, I might be up for something, but if my CRPS is flaring up, me "wanting" to do something is totally irrelevant- the decision is taken out of my hands and put in the hands of my CRPS.

My husband is SO good in this area, so patient, but sometimes it all takes its toll and it's so difficult. I find it hard to separate myself from my CRPS- so if I can't do anything with him, I feel guilty, even though it's not like I've made a conscious decision to flare up out of control and rule everything out.

Some days I think we're doing really well to sleep together as often as we do, but other times I feel so bad that it's been so long. We try so hard to have a "normal" marriage, like other couples in their early 30's, but I think that's a very unrealistic goal to be honest, because we're not like other couples- I have CRPS and my condition and health and pain levels are worse than they've ever been.

So here's where the poll comes in.

I'm interested to find out how often other CRPS couples (meaning one partner has CRPS, not both) are able to sleep together and maintain that part of their relationship- if they can at all. It would be interesting to see the results and get a good idea of what effect CRPS has on this part of our marriages/relationships

x Kate