all RSD sufferers lets support our fellow sufferers. go to USmagazine.com
there is an article written about paula being "wacky" while on telly. i have posted 2x now that she is telling the truth about not taking drugs or drinking. i also have difficulties sometimes when i speak. also there are days when i cannot sit still at all. these actions don't mean i'm taking drugs or drinking. so i would like you all to go there and post comment about your RSD. let's support paula.

We have talked about Paula Abdul before on here. We discussed what everyone thought about her being a spokes woman for RSDS.


This is my feelings about her from all I have seen of her. She is a fly by night with no lights on.

I honestly don't think she would make a good spokes woman because she is either on too many drugs or drinks with the drugs. I can't count how many times that woman has been on TV and acted drunk I honestly have never seen her act normal on TV.

She never talks about her RSDS. All she has talked about on tv is her anorexia or bolemia. RSD has been mentioned only vagely one time in a magazine by her that came out last year that I read.

I would like to see a famous person become a spokesperson for the RSD such as Micheal J Fox did for his disease. But in my opinion she is not it. I don't want people to think I have to be overmedicated and act like she does with RSD.

Ada

But- I am very surprised that she does any interviews when she in in that out of control condition - whether it is from pain, meds or other reasons.
It just doesn't reflect well on her, if it is pain or something causing her to slur and act drunk then she should say so during the interview.

I thought I read that she was cured or in remission of her RSD??.

You bring up an interesting statement. IF she is in remission or cured what would be her excuse for the meds and acting the way she does.

I am thinking I read awhile back that they decided she didn't have RSD. I heard that on TV.

I did see E News channel when they did her story and I don't think RSD was even mentioned if so it was only once.

She just acts too out of it at any time to be acting normal.

Ada

I think we should suport her, (I do) it;s not like we are asking her to be our spokes person, that someone needs to be pasionate about getting the word out and she is not that person.

But I do not think we should abandon or condem her actions if we do not know of her circumstances, she may be changing meds or anything, I do not have a day where my mental facultys are very sharp for long.

happy valantinesday everyone.
Super soft hugs,
Sandra

Paula does not have RSD - The statement that said she had it was retracted from her doctor -she does suffer from pain - I think its arthritis

We do need to find a famous person who can help us!

Debbie

I may have came on a little strong for you guys but I feel it would be nice to have some famous people involved in our fight as they do for Cancer, Parkinson, Alzeimhers. I would like to see them fight for RSD and Fibro since they both hit so many people and we aren't getting the funds to do enough research.

I still say though that Paula Abdul is a bad example of a famous person. I have never seen her on tv that she acted normal. Fox News yesterday was discussing her and said they thought she had more then just coke or pepsi in the cup she drinks out of on American Idol.

I have seen 4 friends get addicted to drugs from having Fibro and Back problems. One's name was just in the paper Monday on a 15,000. bond for causing a fight in a hospital. I watched her and her sister both get so hooked that they are always so drugged up that they shouldn't be driving. I saw a 64 year old friend get that way. I have another friend that got that way and thank goodness he got off of his meds after back surgery and is now back to work.

I have RSD and too many other things to mention and my Dr. and I were discussing Paula Abdul yesterday and he was talking about how she use to be such a beautiful woman and what went wrong.

I know we are all in pain, I know we have to have some heavy meds. I'm on Methadone and as I told him I never want to get to the point that I have seen these other people get too. I've talked to people on the phone that are so drugged up you can tell it.

I'm sorry if I made some of you angry but I just don't agree with what she is doing with her life.

Ada

I agree, Ada. If I didn't tell ppl that I was on fentanyl and percocet on a daily basis, nobody would know. A GOOD pain doctor will control your pain to a semi-tolerable level, but not have you so drugged up that you cannot function, or APPEAR to be on drugs.

The way my pain doc explained it to me, pain medication works with the part of hte brain that is responsible for feeling and sensing pain. Those of us who are really in pain and who take pain meds, won't appear "drugged up" because the drugs have a "purpose" in that area of the brain.

BUT

Those who AREN'T in pain, but take the pain meds for recreational use WILL appear "drugged up" because the drugs DON'T have a "purpose" in that area of the brain. Therefore, the "purpose" becomes "getting high."

When you see someone on pain meds who ACTS stoned, its eithr because they MAY be too highly medicated, or they don't have pain and are taking the meds recreationally.

That's why, my pain doc says, when he sees his patients, if they appear to him to be non-functional, as he would say Paula Abdul is, he would reconsider either A). their dosage, or B). the fact that they have pain at all.

Hi Lisa,
I'm Cathy and just joined NeuroTalk (thankfully) last week.

I really don't have any opinion about Paula Abdul. I want to thank you for the explanation about how pain medication works. I can't take any of the drugs that have codeine in them (which is just about all of them) so doc gave me darvacet (propoxy) and I've always said that I've been aware that the pain is there, just that I don't seem to care as much that it's there. The explanation that pain meds work if taken correctly in the area of the brain that senses or feels the pain is terrific. At least I know that some days when I take it, that is the reason I can still work and get things done.

So thanks Lisa for passing on that info. It's helped me and I'm sure others. We can read all the literature and side effects, etc., but it's only in experience that we become truly knowledgeable and that leads to the blessing of being more compassionate toward our fellow sufferers. There is truly a reason for everything, even if we cannot see it currently.

Have a wonderful day Lisa and all.
Cathy

Hello everyone,
Although I don't post often I do read the post and felt I had to respond to this thread.


I have mixed feelings about Abdul and wish that if she does have RSD, that she would become a spokesperson for RSD if she would be serious with her discussions. Another person that might be good to speak about RSD is Barbara Mandrell as her husband has RSD and this is why she left Tenn to be with him and take care of him. She would be a great asset to the RSD community if she would go more public about this.

I would like to say that I have had the pamidradate infusions that Paula was given and they did help tremendously with my burning and sensitivity. I have these infusions every 2 1/2 - 3 months as 3 day/outpatient treatments. My Dr began with these infusions after a friend of mine that was going to him ask about the treatment Paula had reportedly had. Our Dr called Abdul's Dr and received the information ref the infusions and now is giving them in our area. The treatment DOES reduce the burning of my RSD which is now full body. I would say it reduced up to 50% maybe more at times. It has also helped with the sensitivity that I have in my extremities. continued to have flare-ups due to weather. The only adverse reaction I experienced with these were flu like symptoms for the 1st day or 2, then it began to really reduce the burning.

I wish Paula had spent more time promoting these infusions and letting people know just how much they helped. When you can get up to 50% reduction of the burning it helps both mentally and physically. With reducing both it enables you to do more and be more active, not to mention being able to reduce meds if at all possible. This is my goal, to hopefully reduce my meds which hopefully will make me more alert and less side effects to deal with.

I strongly recommend these infusions to anyone with RSD, it seems to be much safer than some of the other options we have available to us at this point.

My WC ins did pay for these each time I have had them. I was told it was doubtful they would but they did. The cost was approx $1,300.00/day X3 days. Which is also cheaper than some of the other meds and procedures available.