Hi
This is the balance ball DVD:

Balance Ball Beginners Workout-Suzanne Deason (by Gaiam)

and the pilates DVD:

Pilates for Beginners-Jillian Hessel (Gaiam)

I used to put the DVD on on my computer and stretch the mouse lead out on the floor so that I could forward through exercises until I found ones I could do. At first there were only a few, but over time I could do more and more. It is a really good way to prove to yourself you are making progress. It also helped to release the endorphins! Using a balance ball was good for me because getting down on the floor and back up again was very hard.

I also sometimes did/do Chi Kung exercises. I use a DVD called 'The healing Code' by Dermot O'Connor. There is a book that goes with it. He overcame MS. Most of the exercises are done standing and since I couldn't stand for long I would do most of them while sitting on a balance ball.

I also really like a book called 'Anatomy of an Illness'by Norman Cousins.

Thank you!!!!

This is excellent information to know! I will see if my local library can get them from interlibrary loan first. Then I will try Amazon's used books/DVDs.

Thanks so much!

I think sometimes people who get better do not take the time to come back and post.

Wishing you continued success!

Dear Ness -

Your user name and reference to an absence of "several years" (the last three of which have been pain free) suggest that once again, we have the pleasure of the company of Vanessa, aka InHisHands, see Need advice: article I wrote about me/ why I need Ketamine treatment... sound ok??, post #1 at http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...d.php?p=149652 And please correct me if I"m wrong, but with a last posting of March 11, 2008, my money is on IHH.

So, if I guessed right, all the medical and mind/body stuff aside, how and what are you doing? Are you in school? What's going on?

Mike

ps Ironically, only four days ago a junior member responded to InHisHands' thread of December 17, 2006, Full recovery from RSD/ CRPS, which appears at the bottom of this page, after long since going platinum with 61 posts and - as of right now - 12,292 hits!

Sorry - I'm not IHH. But funnily enough I did reply to that thread. Page 4 - Ness. Actually, I reread it and I feel a bit ashamed because I sound quite arrogant and maybe a bit rude - so apologies.

When I was diagnosed I remember looking for stories on the internet of people who had fully recovered and I never found any. It really scared me, so for all those looking now - here it is - I HAVE FULLY RECOVERED FROM RSD / CRPS. I have no pain. As I said in that thread, there was a point where I told my boyfriend I wanted to die - I couldn't cope with a life filled with so much pain and with not being able to walk. The journey to full recovery was long and slow. I realised I had to look inward for healing, not outward to doctors and specialists. The fear was the hardest hurdle to overcome, but eventually I got to a point where I would laugh at the pain - the opposite of what you would normally do. I think this sends a powerful message to the brain that it does not need to continue sending pain signals. I really think I need to write the whole of my recovery story for this to make sense - probably sounds a bit odd on its own!

I agree, it is very nice to hear positive reports once in a while, be it a remission, full recovery, or some progress! Happy to hear the results you have had Ness!!

Here is my "progress report"......

I was diagnosed in September 2009 with CRPS in my big toe. Result of multiple surgeries on that toe. It spread to my entire foot and up my ankle, because I was put in a camwalker for a couple of months while we were trying to figure this out (not good to immobilize!)

I received physical therapy for a couple of months. My PT was an absolute guru and genius, very familiar with CRPS, and I clicked with him immediately. I was very lucky to find a PT of this caliber and with a good CRPS knowledge base. We got the foot to settle down after about 10-12 weeks, and the CRPS now exists in only my toe; the original site of the CRPS. Big score here!!!!! Compared to what so many of you are going through, I consider myself very, very lucky.

Together with my physical therapist, we developed a personal management plan. Below is what I do. And I do it RELIGIOUSLY, every day.

*Warm water therapy for a half hour to start the day. (soaking of foot). It loosens up the foot for therapy and feels great.

*Meditation during the water therapy (what the heck, I'm a captive audience). As mentioned by Ness, the "mind-body" connection should not be ignored and cannot be overstated. It can be very helpful. It can actually change your brain.

*Open your mind to complementary therapies. Below is a link to a site that gives a good overview of many of the complementary therapies that can help you. Look at the bottom of the page where it says "healing practicies A-Z.

http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/

*Full exercises, yoga stretches and physical therapy (self) for foot and lower extremities after the warm water therapy soak

*General exercise of one hour sometime during the day, depending on what I can handle on that particular day. It must be low impact. I love my stationary bike! It also helps me keep my knee strong, (I need a full knee replacement on the opposite leg, which of course I am putting off as long as possible).

*Chiropractic treatments at least once a month to help keep my spinal alignment, as I have compensatory hip problems related to my foot and the "altered gait" that I have because of the CRPS. I receive ultrasound therapy for the hip while at the chiropractor.

*Massage once a month. Not the "relaxing" kind of massage; rather the therapeutic kind that hurts! Gotta find those trigger points!

*Daily meds consist of neurontin (gabapentin) three times a day, naproxen twice a day, trazadone, amitryptiline. This cocktail sure beats the heck out of percocet which I was originally on but weaned myself off of; another big score there!

*My "team" consists of my Podiatrist for foot issues, my GP for general stuff (sleep meds, anti-depressants, blood tests, etc), my Chiropractor, my Massage Therapist, my guru Physical Therapist, and my Pain Management doctor (whom I saw for sympathetic lumbar blocks and some pain meds early on, but don't need his services right now.....yea!) I think it is important to take a "multi-disciplinary" approach to CRPS. Hit it with all guns and don't ignore the mental health ramifications as many of us suffer from depression. Actively seek out professionals who have had experience with CRPS! If any professional gives you that doe in the headlight look or if you find that you know more than they do after talking with them, keep looking! This is a WIDELY misunderstood disorder, even among professionals. I saw one doctor that had only seen two cases of CRPS in 26 years!

I spend a minimum of 3 hours every day working on managing my CRPS. I've literally "waged war" on this disorder! Without a high level of effort, I get into trouble very, very quickly. Considering I had never heard of CRPS until 2 years ago, I've learned so much about this condition.

Is my CRPS gone? In my dreams! No way! I have days that aren't too bad and I also have days with quite a bit of pain. Is it manageable? YES. And for that, and never knowing what tomorrow will bring, I am very thankful!

Thanks for sharing. It is nice to hear hopeful and positive things about recovery.
On a side note on you tube I listened last night to some guided meditation and guided imagery. They are short compared to the ones you can buy but it did help me calm down for a few. I think I am going to get some at the store. I have done this in a program before where it was not so helpful but sometimes times change or practice is needed.

Kathy I agree about laughter helping. My mom and I watched this comic once on tv and I laughed which is rare for me and it really boosted my mood

Hi Ness,
I agree with your statement "The journey to full recovery was long and slow. I realised I had to look inward for healing, not outward to doctors and specialists." After six years of this mess and umteen pain meds and treatments I feel like spiritually it is soooo important to do the inner work as well as the physical work too...they go hand in hand. Thank you so much for your positive support and suggestions. I am working toward that direction and will look into getting the books/DVD's you suggested. The most important things that I insist on doing each day is lots of prayer AND watching a show or talking on the phone so I can get a good belly laugh going where I about cry from laughter. It seems to release alot of junk in my body and helps me get to the next step. I remember seeing a documentary about 10 years ago about a woman who was diagnosed with cancer and instead of getting any treatments she watched funny shows and movies all day and just laughed at it all. She rid her body of the cancer and was cured. It really stuck in my mind all these years and I think it is something to really look in to. I think keeping the brain happy and light does alot for the physical part of our bodies.
Take care and thanks,
kathy d