Hey Tessa! Thank you! There is nothing I can do to make my feet feel better or more comfortable. Sometimes I can wear socks, sometimes not. Sometimes I can wear shoes, but only certain ones. Lidoderm patches do nothing for me. I think the problem in my foot is because the movement back and forth and holding it on the gas. The route to PT only allows for cruise control on part of it. Not trying to sound negative.

I do not have anyone to ask to drive me. The few friends that I have here work full-time and have kids. My neighbors...I am not close enough to any of them to ask something like this. Plus they all work full-time.

So frustrating...

Hi again Nanc. I'm sorry you don't have anyone to help you except your husband. The few good friends I had seemed to disappear after I got rsd. I don't know if it scared them or they just didn't want to hear me talk about it. I realize it's not a fun subject, but thought my friends would be there for support. But they weren't. My husband (and my son when he's home from college) drive me everywhere. My husband just took me to the local diner for dinner. We try to go once a week so I can get out of the house a little. It's only literally five minutes away and the food is so good. He drives me to all of my drs appts. They do have vans here that will take me to dr appts, but my husband wants to take me and luckily he has flexible hours where he works. I so appreciate him doing this. I feel like such a burden, but he says that he wants to do it. It's so nice that your husband drives you too, but I know it's hard at times when they are working. I hope you can find a van that will take you to pt when you need to go there or an at-home therapist. I hope you have a better night tonight too. I know it's hard, but try to hang in there.

Trust me I understand the frustration completely as my CRPS II originated in my driving leg and I live 45 min from the nearest store and 2-3 hours from all doctors. It is very frustrating for sure. I have had many conversations about this with the doctors who treat me, because they easily forget that having a friend drive me means 6 hours out of their day at a minimum.

I do drive, but this means I have to forgo many medications in the days leading up to the appointment so that I am legal to drive, which only adds to the pain and frustration. The only thing things that seem to get me through (and not always without tears) is adjusting my seat so that my pelvis is higher and allows for better blood flow to my legs and feet, frequent stops and the lidoderm patches which reduces the burning a little (too bad they don't help you).

It sucks it really does!! What about local transit or services offered for people with disabilities, ride share or checking with senior centers to if they know of any other transportation services not commonly known otherwise?

Have you tried Valium suppositories for your PFD? A friend uses them and says they have worked wonders for her. Hopefully you can get through your PT quickly and that it helps so that the life challenge and pain it creates makes it worth it in the end.

Fingers crossed,
Tessa

Thanks everyone for your replies and suggestions. I really appreciate it!! I am looking online for services in my state and county. I plan on calling Social Services, etc Monday morning.

These doctors, etc., just don't get it do they? They say, just call a friend or neighbor, like it is that easy. Not many people are that eager to drop everything and spend their day driving and sitting in a doctors office. I know I'm not and I am the one with the appointment. Having RSD in my hands, feet, shoulders, left arm and left leg (and other places) does make it difficult to drive

I don't take many meds at all for my pain because of my allergies to everything. I take phenegran and demerol when I get to a point where I can't take it. It gives me a bad headache so I don't take it much. It is the only thing that I have the smallest reaction to. It doesn't get rid of any pain, but it takes the edge off and will help me sleep. There is no worry about me taking this when I would drive. When I was still working, I wouldn't take anything during the week...it was hard, but I had to be sharp and alert...yeah right!

Tessa - thanks for the recommendation on the Valium suppositories for the PFD...I will ask about them Monday when I go!

Nanc