hi all, i don't want to whine about my problems because god knows i've read just about everything posted by all of you and know that i'm not alone. i guess i'm wondering what you all do to cope with your depression (if you have any) I am truly struggling and not sure what to do. I have always had bouts of depression but managed to pull myself up with zoloft and sheer will power, however, nothing is working right now. this is the fist time i've been out of bed in three days, although NOT sleeping, just to depressed to get up. I feel like and know that i am letting my kids down. my 16 yr old is also clinically depressed and sees shrink and counselor and i know that he needs me to be a better mother right now, i just CAN'T do it. any and all suggestions welcome. thanks in advance for any and all advice, jenny

you should call your doctor. your medication is not working, and maybe you are also having too much pain, are you?
as far as getting out of bed, you have to make a plan, maybe you are getting up to too many 'things'. i know if my plate gets too full, i am overwhelmed and have trouble getting my hurting feet on the floor. counseling helps so much if you can get to a good counselor. you need to get better to help your child, children who are depressed are in danger and need help fast.
and talk about it to us or to anyone who truly listens, sometimes you need to vent and share your feeling. no one can survive rsd alone.
joan

Joan has given good advice I think - better pain control or better depression meds - or a combo that will work better for you should be looked into.

Hi Jeanie! I too agree with Jo. Your medication most likely has stopped working. how long have you been on your antidepressent? did he up the dosage? I too was in your shoes until my Dr. found the right one.(Medication) God bless him! I am on EffexorXR(time released) Also don't feel such guilt. You can't help this depression as well as you can't help Diabetic issuses <(for example) It can be controlled with the right medication's. Plus like Jo said your RSD can be flairing up, pain, etc. I know today I am in a lot of pain and I feel down right depressed, but I am on this new medication and it does help ease it . when you first start the "new antidepresents" it take a couple of weeks for the mecication to kick in. Hang in there Jeanie.. do not worry about whining.. YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT!! that is what this board is for too. Love, Desi

Hi there,

Yes, Joan has given you really excellent advice. There's no doubt in my mind that anyone with RSD (or chronic pain, for that matter) is going to suffer from depression. Not only is it a depressing prognosis, past say the one-year mark, which makes for a depressing view of the future, but chronic pain of any kind is such a severe mental irritant.

And that's not even talking about "clinical depression", which I also believe we almost all suffer from. Seems to go with the territory, not helped by the loony meds we take.

But coming to a forum like this one (OK, specially this one!) is a tremendous help. Though sometimes we each get a bit overwhelmed and need to take a break for a while, there is something very helpful for you yourself in offering help for others where we can, and support where we can't.

So welcome to the forum, it's a good first step to helping yourself in more ways than one.

Oh for the magic wand!
all the best

The advise is excellant from all above. I know it's hard to get started with the first step, but after the first comes the second.

I went through a bout with depression and the guilt with the children was killing me. But I think at the end, which there is an end or at least a calm point, it made them stronger people and the ages at the time were 9 and 13 rough ages. I think in my opinion the depression is the hardest for me sometimes. Nothing is easy with RSD

I go one day at a time, thats all you can do.

Ann

sorry about complaining, i don't usually fall apart like that. unfortunately, i can't go to a doctor. work comp has agreed to reinstate my ttd benefits temporarily until i have another ime but will not reimburse me for the thousands of dollars i have already spent out of pocket for my treatment and i am flat broke and not able to see my dr. or refill anything other than my pain meds (just can't afford it) i'm divorced mother of two living on 614.00 a month with a 575.00 house payment a month. when my mother died i inherited a small amount of money, but that is gone now. i have applied for ss and ssi but am not holding breath, and takes a long time anyway, even if approved. unfortunately, i have no family to speak of so no real support system. you guys are it anyway, sorry again and i sincerely hope all of you have the best day possible, thanks for your support, it's appreciated more than you will ever know. jenny

jenny,
i encourage you to get a lawyer. they will work on commission to get you the money you are entitled to, and to help get you your ssd. you may think you cannot affford a lawyer, but you cannot afford NOT to have one. there are many that will take nothing up front.
you were speaking of what workman's comp will and will not allow you, and that riles me. you will be amazed how putting a lawyer's name on your needs will get them to move! i had no problem with ssd but my long termed disability outright dumped me and i got a wonderful lawyer and the payments started right up again.
i will say it again ... everyone with rsd needs one good doctor and one good lawyer and i am not sure which is more important. joan

hey joan,
actually have an attorney, have had attorney for three years since my initial injury. problem is i wasn't diagnosed with rsd until after my work comp benefits were taken away. just had hearing yesterday and they agreed to start paying ttd again but NOT for treatment until i have seen another one of their doctors. the first doctor they sent me to said i was perfectly fine and had a functional capacity eval done by one of their therapists who said i was displaying symptom magnification which basically means he called me a liar and that my pain is all in my head. i don't know how i can make my arm mottle on my own or make my pulse stay at 100 at all times, or have muscle twitching from head to toe or make my right hand have uncontrollable tremors or make my right hand colder than the left? i guess i'm houdini or something. i have been taking zoloft and elavil but didn't really help, alos i paid out of pocket to see pm who did sgb on me without fluoroscopy and didn't get it in the right spot, so i wasted my last few bucks on treatment that didn't work. it's a big f------- joke! haven't slept in days, can't take care of myself let alone my kids, unbelievable. i've always been very independant because i had to be now i can't even do that. i guess i just worry because kids have NOBODY but me to care for them. no dad that gives a ****, no grandparents, nobody. anyway, hopefully something will go my way soon cuz i don't know if i'm strong enough to get through this, ya know. i appreciate your concern and advice. thinking about seeing chiropractor, don't know, doesn't seem like anybody really knows how to treat this beast. take care and thanks again, jen

Hi Jen..
I just want to send you a (((hug))) a great big soft one.

and to share part of an abstract done by Dr Hooshmand on limbic (emotional)envolvement in RSD as it can mabie help us understand why/how we feel and that it is a normal progression in most of us with RSD.

QUOTE:

4. EMOTIONAL ASPECTS OF CRPS:

LIMBIC SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION

The forth and final diagnostic principle is emotional disturbance in CRPS. In contrast to somatic sensory nerves, the sensory neuropathic nerve fibres responsible for the development of CRPS do not end up in the contralateral neocortical parietal sensory cortex. Instead, according to Bennarroch, over 90% of these sensory nerve impulses terminate in the limbic system. More over, positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrates a significant cerebral insular and limbic activation during painful stimulation of neuropathic pain. The vicious circle of chronic neuropathic pain leading to disturbance of plasticity, as well as inflammation, causes further long term potentiation (LTP)of pain impulse and nerve stimulation in higher centers in the limbic system. This leads to insomnia, agitation, depression, poor memory and poor judgment. The above neurophysiological observations explain the fact that practically every patient suffering from CRPS demonstrates some degree of limbic system disturbance. In our study of 824 patients, one or more of the limbic system dysfunctions were present in every case except three. These consisted of insomnia (92%), irritability, agitation, anxiety (78%), (depression (73%), poor memory and concentration (48%), poor judgment (36%), and panic attacks (32%). Understanding the nature of emotional components of RSD spares the patient from misdiagnosis and improper treatment.

END QUOTE:

The full abstract can be found here:

http://www.rsdrx.com/CRPSABSTRACT.htm

get yr lawyer working on it and get your doctor to write out all your symptoms you have reported and signs that he has seen.

an take a spoon please I have extras today.

an another hug,
Sandra