Hi JJMN, First I have to say I'm sorry that you find yourself in this situation with RSD along with the rest of us here. I'm sorry for my late reply but I was travelling once again.

Since I have no knowledge of your specific details I'm not really able to tell you what the right thing to do is. I think it is always wise to follow the advice of your doctors as they know you best or at least they should.

That being said I have learned that the fear of what RSD can do to us is a very deeply entrenched and a very real emotional state that has the potential to place us in a serious state of denial from some of the greatest joys that life has to offer us. I don't deny my pain or the diagnosis but I do deny the fact that I cant go on living the way I have always dreamed of living even if I do have to compromise certain things to obtain those goals. It ultimately boils down to your your individual strength and spirit. If you want to believe that RSD will control your life completely it will. On the other hand if you are able to accept that RSD is just one aspect of your life and that you and it they can co-exist together you will find ways to learn how to cope with the various strains on life that affect our RSD. Hell I find that that my RSD can jump from mild to extreme by just sitting in the same room for a whole day with the exact same temperature and environment. So I long gave up trying to protect myself in a bubble.

I've just returned from travels in Europe going by planes, trains, buses, boats and hydrofoils, each environment was different and I carried appropriate clothing, heating water bottles, pads etc to help me deal with my rsd as it presented. Dress in layers so when you are too hot you can peel off the layers but when it's too cold for you you can add it all to protect the specific areas that need it most. I even managed to walk more than I expected I could on some days and on those days that I just couldn't do it I took the traditional tours where little walking was required.

I try to plan for my flights...for me it means having my lidocaine appointments scheduled before and after my travel dates. Yes you will feel the physiological effects more than the average person but you can counter that by adjusting your pain and anti-inflammatory medication slightly and by drinking only and lots of water before during and after your flight. I also double up on many vitamins before hand.

Most impotantly you are the one who makes your decisions, listen to the best advise of the professionals who are treating you, ask more questions, be prepared for every eventuality but please don't let the fear of RSD be your enemy.

I wish you well and I do hope you will find a way to attend you brothers wedding RSD and all.

MsL