HI NIKKI,

IT WAS GREAT ADVICE THAT YOU SHARED WITH AUSTIN. AS I HAVE SEEN IN OTHER YOUNG RSD SUFFERERS ... YOU APPEAR TO BE WISE BEYOND YOUR YEARS. YOU ARE SO RIGHT IN THAT SOMETIMES THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE A LITTLE PUPPY LOVE. MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER SARAH, WHO ALSO HAS RSD, WOULD ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

SARAH, TOO, PARTICIPATED IN DR. SHERRY'S PROGRAM WITH LITTLE IF ANY RELIEF; BUT I WANTED TO SHARE HER STORY IN THE CHANCE THAT IT MIGHT HELP YOU:

In January 2005, our then 13-year-old daughter, Sarah, sprained her ankle in a dance class and was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). RSD is a chronic, life-changing, extremely painful illness for which adequate treatment is often impossible to find. Many afflicted with RSD become disabled, unable to work or go to school, with only minimal relief found with even the strongest medications.

How could something as common as a sprained ankle result in such devastating complications? It is suspected that a short circuit develops in the spinal cord that sends pain signals to the neurovascular nerves that control blood flow through the blood vessels. The blood vessels constrict, decreasing blood flow and resulting in a lack of oxygen to the skin, muscles, and bones. This lack of oxygen and subsequent acid waste buildup leads to the intense pain and other serious complications. Sadly there is no cure for RSD; and it is known to spread, even to the point of becoming full body.

Over an 18-month period Sarah was hospitalized twice for weeklong epidurals, received several nerve blocks, took way too many medications, traveled across country to participate in an intense physical therapy program, and received numerous other complimentary treatments. She was under the care of some of the best doctors in the country, and yet nothing had stopped her pain.

Desperate to find relief for Sarah, we spent hours online searching for information. One evening we ran across a Discovery Health Channel broadcast about a young girl from Europe who had been bedridden with RSD for over four years. In her family’s quest for answers, they discovered that hyperbaric oxygen treatments (hbot) were key to their daughter’s recovery. Having been on so many emotional roller coasters of hope followed by disappointment, we were apprehensive to become too excited.

After further research, we were encouraged and felt compelled to give hyperbarics a shot. Plans were quickly put in place for an extended stay away from home so that Sarah could receive treatments at a freestanding clinic. After the first treatment Sarah thought that she might have felt some relief; and after half a dozen, it was apparent that we were on the right track. Upon completing 22 treatments at 2.5 ATA, Sarah was totally pain free but continued on to complete the 40-treatment protocol.

Sarah was the clinic’s first RSD patient so we did not know what to expect when hyperberics were discontinued. What we found was that Sarah’s pain would resurface every 6 to 8 weeks. We would then pack up and again travel five hours from home so that Sarah could receive boost treatments. Each time it took just three to stop the pain.

After many months of this routine, we began to check into other options. This led us to look at “mild” hbot chambers; but we couldn’t find any information indicating that these could address the pain. In our search we talked with a wonderful couple, she a doctor and he a diver and hyperbarics tech. They graciously invited us to come stay with them to try out their mild chamber. Sarah was in constant pain by the time we arrived, but she again found relief with only 3 treatments. Sarah is now the very proud and thankful owner of her very own chamber. She continues to have a few lingering signs of her RSD, having two pain flares in the past eight months. Both were triggered by infections; but for the first time in 3 years, we now have the means to help her.

Despite the many bumps in the road and the months of unending pain, Sarah has emerged a remarkable, happy, bright young woman. She is back in school and carrying a full load, recently received her driver’s license, will soon be attending her first prom … really just out enjoying many everyday teen activities. We share Sarah’s hyperbarics success story because it was only through learning from the experience of another that we finally found the help that she so desperately needed. Sadly the logistics of obtaining hbot, along with the cost, often make it a prohibitive option. It is heartbreaking and a tragedy that endless suffering continues when this remarkable treatment is available and has the potential to do so much for so many.

THE ABOVE IS A TESTIMONIAL THAT RECENTLY APPEARED IN THE INTERNATIONAL HYPERBARICS ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER. I FEEL AN OBLIGATION TO SHARE SARAH'S STORY BECAUSE IT BREAKS MY HEART TO REALIZE THAT MANY DO NOT KNOW OF THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS THAT HYPERBARICS CAN OFFER.

WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST,
JEANNE

Very nice to meet you Nikki. Thank you for posting, Yes i went through Dr. Sherry's program this last time i went was the third time i had went for his treatment. I do have pets i have 2 cats. May i or if you like you can PM me the answer but where is your RSD located? Again nice to meet you.

Hi Austin,
I am so sorry you are going through this mess. I have a 19 year old son who is my rock and you have brought tears to my eyes especially with your last message about friends and family. My son and I have gone through the same thing. We worry about each other but it sounds like you are so alone. Where are you located? I am in Levittown, PA 13 miles NE of Philly. I too am on the "waiting list" with Dr. S. too for Ketamine so I know your pain. I have full-body RSD and Fibro, Rheumo Arth., Osteoporosis too so every day is a trying experience but I feel so bad for you especially because you are so young for this mess. I don't know if you are religious or not but I have become much more so in the past 3 plus years and when I am down I really do rely on prayer to help. If you are local to me I would like to see if you can see a great chiropractor who I have been seeing in Hulmeville for almost 2 years and she has helped me tremendously with twitching, discoloration and allover body pain. Please let me know. Send me a private email back so I can talk to you about it. I am very worried about you because I feel the same way too. I will keep you in my prayers.
Take care,
kathy d.

Hey again.
(btw, I sent you a pm)

My rsd has been going on almost two years (2 years in like 2 weeks). It started in my right foot from a gymnastics injury but quickly spread from there. My rsd is everywhere excepy my face, mouth, and throat.

Aww, I love cats too. I have one kitty.

Hey Jeanne. Sorry to hear your daughter has rsd as well. Send her my best wishes.

Nikki

I got 8 1/2 hours of relief from my pain on saturday night into sunday morning.
It is a dangerous relief mixture but if your pain goes beyond what you can handle for along time as mine has your willing to try anything that will work.
If anyone would be interested in what it was PM asking about "RJ"