I am feeling like my husband no longer sees the pain I am in. Like he has gotten used to it. Each step has been painful this week, not so much my RSD foot as my hip and leg on the other side. I am going to have to go to my family doctor and work my way through this problem. I think it is probably my back. I have been using the walker again, even though I know it is a big help, it is discouraging. I know if I use it more it will become easier to use.

Tonight he asked me to cook something for him. Really? I know he is not feeling well today. I asked him if he could sit on the kitchen stool, like I do, and cook it himself. He was surprised and did cook for himself. I am glad I stood up for myself. I have been taking care of myself today, doing as little walking as possible. I know he is tired of this whole thing, and wants me to take care of him and the house. I am doing the best I can.

We have had a lot of stress this week. Many big problems coming at us. wow Why did I not see that that was making the pain even worse? Glad I wrote that. Now I get to go through the diahrea as the poison of that stress works its way through my body.

Thank you for listening. I so appreciate all of you.
peace
zinnia

I feel like this is happening to me and my boyfriend too. He's really great generally...does anything I ask...but lately just seems a little clueless about just how MUCH pain I am in right now dealing with my additional shoulder problems. I'm frustrated...he's frustrated...

We'll get through it and all will be well...but my RSD is the norm and now the shoulder pain after 5 months is also becoming a norm to him (not to me) so I think he just sometimes forgets how bad it is.

It's good that you stood up for yourself. Sometimes I do...sometimes I don't. If I do...I feel like I am a whiner and complainer...and if I don't then I get berated for not asking for help. It's kind of no win...but I'm sure that's my fault for not standing up for myself every time and instead pushing though time and time again.

I hope that your pain gets better...that the stress goes away and things can get back to normal for you. Hugs.

This very same thing has happened to many of us here on this site. At first, the people around us are horrified and shocked that we could be in constant pain like we are and the empathy flows from them like water. But over the course of time, those around us begin to notice their loss, as a part of this too and so they want things to go back to just the way that they were prior to our getting CRPS, which is impossible for us, because we really and truly are in a devastated state of illness. So as time continues on, CRPS puts more and more strain and stress on those relationships, until either everyone finds a place to settle in, or things blow up and those relationships begin to deteriorate. I for one have lost many very close relationships because of CRPS. And as much as we don't want this path to occur case after case, it often times does. In my opinion the best that we can hope for is that our immediate family and closest friends will stick by us! And that is indeed a great and good thing to have hope for. This is a frustrating disease for so many reasons, and what it does to our relationships with others is one of them.

The stress of having to deal with this disorder does have an effect on our friends and family as well as us. We may end up loosing some friends because they get tired of us backing out of going out, or it is always at your own place. Family doesn't seem to understand sometimes, thinking that you were able to do something yesterday, why not today. Even understanding the amount of pain that we have to deal with is difficult for them to understand. It's not just the pain, CRPPS wears us down and we become completely exhausted, physically, mentally and emotionally more often than usual.

I have been having a difficult time at home as well for a few months now. Husband does not want to learn anything and no longer believes what I have to deal with every day. He thinks it is just another excuse, has told me that it is all psychosomatic, separated our beds without discussing it first, back to drinking, verbal abuse... basically left me feeling quite alone at times. Yes he has been a big help, but has worn me out emotionally.

I am glad you were able to stand up for yourself. I hope that all your stress does not cause too many problems both with CRPS and your relationship, but if it does, even if it doesn't, there are always people on NT to listen when you need them.

i went to get bloodwork yesterday to check my vit d level again and asked the dr to take blood out of my left arm. he asked why and i told him because i have rsd which started in my right arm and i can't have anything touching that arm because it hurts too much and could cause further damage. i asked him if he knew what rsd was and he said no. so after my blood was taken i handed him an rsd brochure and he thanked me and said he would make copies of it and post it on the walls at the drs offices. that made me so happy and i thanked him too. i pass out rsd brochures alot to try to help raise awareness and hopefully find a cure for this horribly rare and misunderstood disease.

i have had rsd for over five years now and have learned that i have to sometimes remind others that even though they can't always see the pain it doesn't mean it's not there. sometimes people who have the best intentions sometimes forget what we with rsd are going through. and sometimes we have to deal with difficult people who are not willing to listen. for those people i try to keep my distance the best way i can and continue dealing with my rsd, my depression and my life the best way i can one day at a time. having my friends here at NT as a support system also helps me deal with the pain and frustrations that we who have rsd have to deal with every second of every hour of every day. i am so grateful for all of you for being my friends and hope you always remember that you are not alone because you've got a friend in me too. i am so very proud of all of you for facing each day with such hope and courage. you are all very brave for not giving up. we must never give up trying to make the most of each day we live. someone once told me that each day is a "present". how true it is. love and hugs to all.

WOW! That brought a tear to my eye.

Thank you all for your encouragement and understanding. It means so much to me right now. He has done a few things today without me asking. I feel exhausted today, it is all catching up with me. If I had a positive attitude, I would see that the walker is allowing me to do more, than if I was not using it. How is that for a start? I do need to ask for more help, what do I have to loose?
:-)
zinnia