[RSDLeftFootONLY]

Just wanted to say hi to everyone! I'm half asleep, but I wanted to post before I forgot. RSD has "caused" me to be VERY forgetful and I do not sleep well. Further, my doctor says and I have read that caffeine is bad for RSD, so I stopped completely...I still can't get used to this and this was over 2 months ago.

This post introduces me. I am 25, my name is Nicole. I'm a vegetarian, will be a high school teacher in history, psychology, sociology and later political science (government). I am a newlywed as of July 6, 2007. I love coffee *but can't have it now!!!!* and cheesecake and the color aqua....ect. ect.

I have read a lot of posts for the last 2 hours from all of you. I will pray for your recovery, and I literally feel your pain. I commend you all for being SO STRONG! I am also suing the city where I fell, no, I don't want to sue, I love the city, but they MUST fix the sidewalk so other's are not hurt....further WHEN I win I plan to donate a substantial portion to RSD research and RSD foundations. I also began painting and have created 1 painting about my RSD, I hope to post it in the future!

Early Intervention: I have had RSD for 3 months, and began physical therapy less than 2 months into it, plus I began "desensitizing" and massaging 13 days after the injury when I was diagnosed. As soon as I got home from the doctor, I looked it up online and treatments and began from there. I attribute me feeling better to: early intervention and reiki. My dad does reiki and he began doing this as soon as the injury occured. I really recommend reiki. I can give you more information about it if you want--just ask

About me and how I "got" RSD: Anyway, I got married July 6, 2007..was sick on the honeymoon, followed by 2 infections when I got home, a cold and then the flu. I was better for 3 days..I usually do not get sick..well not for that long!! Sooo...I was really excited to have fun with my "new" husband! And on the 3rd day of feeling good, it was my husbands birthday, August 30, 2007. We were out walking on mainstreet in a cute little city by our house, as we do frequently. I twisted my ankle/foot in a huge crack in a curb, just perfect for my foot to fit in. The RSD "showed" about 7 days into the injury, it was all the way up my calf. Now it is localized in the front portion of my foot, only on the bottom.

Physical Therapy: I have been in physical therapy for 7 weeks. 4 weeks into it my doctor saw me again to evaluate my progress, and was amazed and said that my RSD was almost "gone"!

Medications: I was on codeine with tylenol and a muscle relaxant. The codeine didn't do much, the muscle relaxant (Skelaxin) helped wonders! Both made me feel "high" and nauseous, as did the high dose of Naproxen, which I have lowered to help my stomach. I also had a horrible electrocuting feeling in my heel for a month, but the pain THANKFULLY subsided, and was going to go on Lyrica. I still have a "twitch" in the front bottom portion of my foot at times. I am going to my doctor this Friday, to see if I should go back on muscle relaxants, but I took those for when my foot spasmed and cramped to a curled position--PAINFULLY and I could not voluntarily move it. The twitch another doctor I see believes may be nerve related and wants to wait a few weeks --hoping it will go away, as the pain has been lessening --before prescribing Lyrica. I also have undiagnosed pain in the ball of my foot, same as where the twitches are, which I am tired of and will address with the doctor Friday, because it is still holding me back in physical therapy.

Life Changes: I "had" to withdraw from my university classes, because of the combination of pain/side effects from medications/no caffeine/lack of sleep. I think it was the BEST decision for me, because I was able to fully immerse myself in "curing" my foot. Most days I spend at least 8 hours cycling --walking, sitting, standing, resting, doing the home physical therapy exercises, 3 days a week of physical therapy epsom salts, moist heat, massaging and stretching. I said I need to focus on this NOW and do as much as I can to alleviate it. I withdrew and at least I was only pursuing an extra minor, as I already have history and psychology as majors (finished) and sociology as a minor (finished) and so next semester I can do my secondary education courses...then next year student teaching -- I wanted to be "well" so I could do my best and NOT LET RSD CONTROL ME!!!!