Bigsave, I pop in every now and then. Wanted to give you a bit of hope, or something.
I certainly don't want to sound like I'm blowing my trumpet or anything like that, just give you an idea that along the track things can turn out differently that they may first look.
I'm 25, had rsd for going on 5 years and when I first had to contest with this beast I thought I was going to have to let go of my dream before I had even started on the road.
But here I find myself 7 clinical weeks left of my PT degree despite widespread rsd, and now GI and bladder issues too.

I am doing something I love and its worth all the pain and stress (well, depends when you ask me, at night after a long day on clinical I frequently wonder why I put myself through this, but by morning I'm ready to put myself through it all over again... something about the short term memory from head injuries lol)

There are lots of ways to get around stupid rsd stuff, not everyone is able to but its well worth trying if you can.

I think for me its a combination of fulfilling my dream, being told it was impossible and wanting to prove everyone wrong, feeling like I am accomplishing something, and the inspiring people I get to meet doing my job... nothing like seeing a bilateral below knee amputee walking unaided on their prosthetic legs for the very first time!

Don't give up if at first you don't succeed... with perseverance and pigheadedness its worth trying at least 3 more times... lol

Felicia