I am having a hard time trying to figure out what the point of living like this is. For what? To be happy that occassionally I am able to recieve a hug without wanting to cry from the pain that it caused. Should I be happy that at the end of the month I officially lose my job and insurance? Who is going to hire someone who can only work sometimes? Someone that forgets 90% of what people tell them? I just so t even know why I should try anymore.

Just give yourself some time. Sometimes a day can make all the difference. I certainly know how you feel.

Agreed. It doesn't make it any easier, but one more day can make all the difference. Hang in there

I have "good days" but even the good ones aren't good.....I miss my life.

Life is difficult with a severe illness like RSD/CRPS. It can take years to figure out how to find a balance that works for you. Returning to work was an impossibility for me--I tried adapting and considered many career options, but none were ultimately realistic.

We're all different and you and your doctors will need to figure out if you're capable of doing any type of work. If you're not, you'll want to consider applying for SSDI (or SSI if you don't have enough credits). And, if you loved your job, this will feel like another blow, another thing taken away, but this doesn't mean you can't achieve happiness (or at least contentment) with a new path.

If you don't have a company or personal long term disability insurance policy, it makes things trickier. CA, HI, RI, NJ, and NY all have short term disability that are very easy to qualify for if you're lucky enough to live in of those states. Different states have different policies on collecting unemployment and filing for SSDI at the same time... If you need help or direction, please visit the SS disability forum or even pm me if you like.

When I read these posts from you kids that are suffering so with this disease I can't stop the tears. My daughter has had CRPS for going on 3 years now and is struggling so with the pain (spreading throughout her body), the drugs, their side effects, trying to keep her job, on and on. I feel so helpless and wish I could just take her pain so that she could have her life back ~ I've lived my life and it's just unfair that I should be so healthy while she is suffering so! For all you folks that are trying to cope and getting so discouraged, I urge you to just try not to give up!! I still believe that, eventually, medical research will find a cure for this horrible progressive disease. My writing "campaign" to all areas of the medical field re CRPS and RSD is ongoing and I believe that if all of us keep "bugging" the medical profession, they will come up with a cure!! Bless you ~ try to stay strong ~ all my best!