Just wanted to make a comment in regards to all the awesome progress in this thread and in others. People are making bigtime positive strides, and this thread is about celebrating that. Man that's frickin awesome

The other side of this, is that anytime we push a threshold, it very typically results in a corresponding rough time when pain and depression and resignation all return, sometimes with a vengeance. In my experience this is NORMAL. So whenever things are bad - KNOW that it is a result of your mind and body adjusting to the new norm you're setting by breaking through your old boundaries. There is no such thing as success without trial and tribulation.

I'm not saying hey - just go ahead and overdo it with reckless abandon (not that most of us could do that if we even wanted to anyway) but...

Just try to measure your progress as objectively and detachedly as possible over weeks and months, NOT several days, because it WILL be two steps forward followed by one (and sometimes even two) back. Net gain is The name of the game.

So when Bio kicks @$$ and goes shopping - she gets 1) the satisfaction and excitement of achievement, and 2) added pain from pushing it harder than "normal." The key is in knowing that the delayed onset pain is from pushing the limits, and that it will pass, and that it will yield a new baseline level that is a tiny bit better than before over time.

Yesterday I managed to walk through 4 stores pushing a carriage. And yes it hit me hard later in the day. I fell into a coma at 5pm from exhaustion. Today I had cold burning pain on my right calf, but I am not giving in to it.

On Sat. and Mon. I was lucky enough to use my friend's pool. I walked and marched in it for over an hour both days. I even walked backwards! It was a joy to walk normally, with minimal pain. I kept to the shallow end for more weightbearing benefit.

Okay, I know I haven't been on here for a while. I needed to step back and focus on other things besides my son's CRPS and let my heart do some healing. But I just have to tell you all this. About a week ago, he discovered that he can rollerblade and tolerate it pretty well for about a half hour or so at a time. This is HUGE! There's something about the heel-to-toe motion of walking that triggers pain on top of his foot. That motion is avoided in blading. Perhaps that are is where the nerve damage is, I don't know. The doctors can't figure it out because CRPS is not usually a pinpointed area like that. Ultrasound showed nothing abnormal along the nerves.

This break-through came shortly after his ortho surgeon said that if he doesn't start bulking up muscle soon, it's going to become permanently weaker than the other leg. This really gives him a great opportunity to strengthen that calf, ankle and foot. I'm so excited. I bawled for joy the first several times he rollerbladed. I've never cried so much in one year in my life.

I'm so very happy for your son and for you as him mom!! CRPS I believe takes everyone involved on emotional roller coasters. I'm so glad that this is a high!!

Sent from my XT1028 using Tapatalk

Been too long since we had success post!

I have noticed in the last few days that I can leave my foot down while practicing piano. Previously I would cross my leg in the 'figure 4 position' so my ankle was resting on the opposite knee. Otherwise it would sting and go purply.

Lately I have been so focused on what I'm doing with my hands that I wouldn't realize till later that I had my foot down the whole time! I have looked at it to check in and it has looked pretty good!

Don't know if this will last or is new normal but it sure is nice. I think the ketamine/scar treatment combo is helping but I also think having something other than my foot that requires intense concentration is helping retrain some of my "footcentric" perspective.

For a long time I have been frustrated with my doctors. It seemed like they didn't listen to what I would say and wouldn't be open to treatment options they couldn't provide (aka make their own money off of). But this week I really stood up for myself with my pain doctor. I told everything that was going on and asked for what I needed and she listened and gave me a referral to an acupuncturist!

Also instead of giving in to pain and laying on my couch, I got on the elliptical for the past two days to prevent a flare!

My husband graduated from the fire academy yesterday and I was able to attend! I also got the great honor of pinning his badge on him something I was worried I wasn't going to be able to do. The only tears I cried were tears of happiness. After the graduation we went out to lunch and it was so wonderful to be able to spend some time with our family and friends. I was hurting really bad later that day but the excitement and love from the day made it a little more bearable.

Congratulations to your husband, NurseKris. Sometimes it is worth the extra pain to be able to celebrate special occasions. Take extra care for a few days as you recover to your 'normal'.

Dave.

Hello y'all. I'm fairly new to all of this being diagnosed at the end of August. I do suffer with nerve pain in my foot and parts throughout my body. My foot still swells and hurts where I had surgery on top of some other issues I complain of
All of y'all make me look like my issues are very minimal to what y'all are dealing with and I feel guilty about complaining. I can still walk short distances. Most night I don't have sleep problems. My nerve pain thanks to meds and ketamine and nerve block. Are not as bad. But my heart goes to each and everyone of y'all. If I ever do get to the stages some of y'all are in. I will hold my head high and push forward just because of y'all courage. Thank y'all and God bless


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk