It dawned on me that most people in the forum are probably not familiar with me anymore. Since all I do is drop in and read the posts, but rarely post anything, so they wouldnt know me at all.

So I thought a little bit about me is in order. I got RSD from a botched angiogram. They did the angio and said see ya in 15 years! Your arteries and heart are clear! I was back in a week with a right leg that was white as a piece of typing paper. They couldnt find a pulse, so they did another angiogram from the left leg, and realized they had blocked the femoral artery with what they called a collagen plug. This was April 1, 2000....not a funny prank at all!

They removed the clot, but at the same time they tore up the femoral nerve, and also made a huge scar. Told me that I would never be the same again, and that I died on the operating table twice during the 7 and a half hour surgery. I came out of that not able to walk, and a burning to the right leg that was agonizing!

As I looked online to find out what this RSD stuff they told me I had was... I found a place called Braintalk. Braintalk had some serious server troubles and closed down, and we all moved over to Neurotalk......Been here ever since! The best place on the net to connect with folks that are in the same boat. Some are more some severe then others, but the advice and friendships really help in those dark days of searching for help.

I have made some life long friendships here, and continue to meet new people that become friends for life! I love reading peoples stories, and also like to share the things that I have found that helps me to cope with the pain, and also the depression that comes with finding you have lost your old life, and are now beginning a whole new life filled with pain, anxiety, and people that have no clue what your going through.

That is what is so great about this place! It is chock full of people that know exactly what your going through, and are there to help, and also are here for the same reason.

I am proud to call myself a member of this wonderful website! I will try to get in here more often because in those dark first few years, it was the people here that helped me more then any doctors, friends, or family. I gained knowledge on what works and doesnt work for me, and am forever greatful to the creators of Neurotalk for keeping this site alive and well!!

I could go on and on, but I figure you all have got the jist of my story. I will always be praying for everyone here, and also for the website admins for making a place that is a blessing to thousands of people!

Yep,
I really enjoy the communication in here.
By the way, I'm Russell, glad to meet you...

Glad to see you posting again. I did not know your history. Thanks for sharing that with members that are more recent to NT.

Your post was very touching and much appreciated.

Thanks for your contributions.

Welcome Back Allen. It's good to hear from you again!

Hey old guy from toon town .. lol .. what’s up Allen?! (oh god I hope you know that statement was in jest and meant to be funny and I hope you're at least smiling lol ) I have caught you here once or twice some back in my earlier days and once just for an update on production recently. So yeah.. good to see you! Yes, hangout with us again and share knowledge/experience.. please.

It was good to hear your story. I can so identify to that waking up and can’t walk business and the ankle/foot on fire is terrible, but I didn’t nearly die a couple of times in surgery.. wow... yikes!

I enjoyed your story about how you and some earlier folks ended up here at NT (The Founders). Yeah, back in 2004 when I was Dx ppl were still on 56k dialup (omg) for the most part (cable was still relatively new) and finding anything on the net about “you have RSD” took a while and took a while for me to give in and look too. I didn’t know what it meant, no doctor bothered to explain it to me, so denial became my new best friend for many, many years. I just knew I needed a little more time and it would “heal”. Denial works right up until it doesn’t.

You are on point! I have made some really wonderful friends here (ya know, one can never have too many) and they help like no other in those dark, really dark moments of pain, doubt and confusion.

Yes, I don’t know if I have ever said so directly but thank you NT creators for giving us a place and thus a voice, thank you! The monitoring and hosting expenses, etc.. the work you put into it.. thank you so much. It’s a large site with a lot of working parts. No easy task and bonus no server issues! You rule!

Great to hear from you! Hope we get another update when you’re out Squatchin again!

Hey, Allen!

I don't think many of us that were on BrainTalk post anymore. I have wondered how many of those people are doing. I remember how lost I felt when BrainTalk went down! And, so glad when I found most everyone had come here to NeuroTalk!

Good to hear from you again here!

Yeah most everybody that is from the original group are now on Facebook. We still keep in touch that way. In fact if any of you want to find me there, and a lot of RSD'ers, here is my FB link

https://www.facebook.com/Sasquatchin

It was pretty sad when Braintalk went down. I remember it was like I was all alone in the night with the frickin pain. Such a relief to find this place....so many cool memories of our road trips and stuff we would do LOL!!

Hi Russel!! Nice to meet you!!

very interesting post, hope you're having low pain day!

Hi Allen. I have seen some of your posts here and there...it is nice to meet you!

Nanc