Hi Lori Lee
Unfortunately there is just no way to predict whether you will be lucky enough to have a remission or not. Nobody can answer this question for you. It is one of the tough features of this diagnosis that you have to find a way to come to terms with the total uncertainty of your prognosis.

All you can do is work as hard as you can on your rehab activity (as you currently are) and try to come to terms with the diagnosis. All the uncertainty and fear that you have is completely normal - you wouldn't be nornal if you didn't feel like that! WFor now you should simply concentrate on getting through each day - it sounds trite but it is an excellent coping strategy. Eventually as you recover, you will realise that you need more from life than just surviving from day to day. Then you can start to think about some of these other bigger issues and questions. You will lurch along from feeling OK to total panic for a while - it is just part of the normal process of coping so accept it and don't waste energy fighting it.

You need to find your own way to be able to accept the diagnosis along with its inherent uncertainty and move forward in as positive a way as possible. Consider seeking counselling or assistance from a psychologist. I didn't go down that route because it wasn't for me - I was determined to do it all on my own (which I successfully did). There is every possibility that you will be able to resume your job but you may have to wait a bit longer before you will know whether it is possible. I have managed to go back to work full-time as a commercial lawyer (4 months after my diagnosis) despite having significant CRPS related physical disability (I can barely walk now so I use crutches and a wheelchair) and a great deal of pain (which seems to be spreading to all 4 limbs). To some extent it depends on getting a decent drug regime in place, suitable emotional and practical support and the rest is up to you - you need to be incredibly determined and positive but it is a great distraction from the pain if you can manage it.

Good luck.

I am so sorry that you must endure this pain. I have said this many times, though I know it is NO consolation "But, you are in good company!" You will find much support here and people who really care. I hate to be a habitual advocate of HBOT, but there are a few of us who find amazing results in this form of treatment. I truly believe that if HBOT was administered on site of injury, as it is for professional athletes, many of us would not be where we are today. I know of a manufacturer of HBO Chambers. They make portable HBO Chambers, that go to athletes when they are injured. I think you can still have a good quality life and not give up your career. For me it requires, planning, exceptions, concessions and HBOT on a regular basis.
I also have some writings of a man that passed this year on RSD and HBOT if you would like I will send them to you. (Heres to you Vic, may you rest in peace!)
Please NEVER give up hope! My doctors said " you are resisting the fact that you have RSD". Each year when I ask "what is new, what is everyone doing for treatment?" I get...no one is doing more than you! So I have to advocate on my own behalf and I do exactly what it takes for me to get by and still be more than reasonably satisfied with my results! I live my life each day to my standards and I am thankful for the progress I have made. If you have read my posts, you know I have a home chamber. I know that not everyone can do this. When I first went to Canada, I sold my car, a white convertible Jaguar. Never yet too be replaced. I had forty dives in a HBO chamber and my results were amazing. I have had many dives since and although it is not a cure for me, my life has moved from the bed to the depths of the ocean. Anything is possible. You will move through this phase and on to the newer phases, as nothing, for sure, stays the same. Look forward with hope. Lots of love and prayers Diana

I feel fine quite often when I'm not experiencing symptoms. Indeed I experienced this primarily as a sense of dread or pessimism when I acquired it 10 years ago. There would usually be low level pain first but sometimes I'd know the pain was coming because the pessimism hit. I was under huge stress which probably exascerbated symptoms. I guess I didn't take the condition as seriously as it warranted since in the beginning I was still able to do most all the things I wanted to.

From the beginning my affected hand would sometimes feel so good and so well that it couldn't be injured or hurt with a sledge hammer. It felt palpably OK! Of course it never lasted long and the pessimism/ pain would hit and it would be the stages of grief all over gain. Now this sensation has generalized and I feel this sense from my amygdala to my toes on a couple occassions.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here really except that you probably will have this the rest of your life if it's not in remission within the first two years. But this is no reason to give up. When you accept it and look for the triggers it becomes easier to avoid the pains. At one time I thought it was impossible for me to avoid suicide but now I've come to just try to appreciate the hours and days I have. I used to live in the future but now I have a much firmer grip on the present. Worrying about my condition always brings on panic attacks so I just try to deal with the moment.

While you may need to give in, you never need to give up. Get out as much as possible and try to enjoy what you have. Avoid your triggers. Perhaps we'll live to see the day that this thing can be cured.

Best wishes.

I really should have mentioned that most people eventually end up on the right combination of drugs that do a good job of controlling their symptoms.

I've had RSD for 10 years.... dealt with grief, anger, resentment, denial and just about everything. Got into therapy. Now... I'm in total acceptance of what RSD is and what it does to MY body. It took time. It took therapy. It took me being honest. Like Karen said.... this is it. So.... what's left to do but say... this is Me... and my rsd is part of what I am.. but it's not what I am. You'll have good days where you swear you never had a problem and you'll have days where you are literally gonna loose your mind because the pain and the skin sensitive is just out of the world that day despite taking your medications. It's just part of RSD life.

I hope things get better for you, seriously. And if you ever get frustrated, confused, or angery... VENT BABY VENT! It's the best way to deal with it.

Blessings
Jodi