[dreambeliever128]

I went to see my Physical Therapist today. He and his wife took care of me for 2 years and then I haven't seen them for a little over 3. He says God keeps bringing me into their lives. He told me they worried about me after Bill died and prayed for me. He's very religious.

Anyway, he says I am much worse off then I was when they last saw me. Good to hear, huh? LOL

He asked me why they haven't addressed my neck problems. As I told him, we take things in the order of which is the worst. He thinks my neck is one of my worst problems. He also says I am standing crooked now, to the right. He stretched my neck to deal with the TOS and other issues. I go back Wed. He says my back is worse, knew that.

As I told him, I know I overdo but when you live by yourself and have to do for yourself then you have no choice. I never sit still. He says I am a walking miracle. As I told him, he's the 3rd to tell me that. I know I am but I get frustrated because I can't get farther along in getting well. I know I will always have some of these issues but I do want to get better to a point.

I still need at least 3 more surgeries and not sure if that will end it.

Anyway just venting. I am so tired from the therapy. He did give me some exercise for my neck to do. Miminal exercise. I love these two. They are the best in PT and the best of people.

Thanks for listening. I'm going to my Dr. next today.

I know a lot of you feel frustrated also, I can so relate.

Ada

[ali12]

Hi Ada,

I'm sorry to hear that you are finding PT so frustrating at the moment!

I understand what you are going through. I have to go to PT at my local childrens hospital on a weekly basis and it can be VERY frustrating. My PT's are almost constantly telling me how much worse the Dystonia in my RSD leg is getting and that they need to do something more about it. I have heard it so many times so it can get very frustrating and it is always horrible to have someone tell you how much worse you are getting!!!

I have to do exercises at home on a daily basis also and find them very difficult to do. I try my darn hardest to do them the best I can but I don't think the PTs fully understand just how painful and tiring it is for me and that I also have to try and go to school. I know that the exercises are for my own good and are supposed to try and help me but I get frustrated with doing them sometimes - as i'm sure many others do also!!

I really hope that the PT will help with some of your problems and that you get to feeling better soon! I'm SO glad to hear that you like these PTs - it really makes a difference when you have someone you are comfortable with!

I'm sorry to hear that you have to have surgery. I hope that it all goes well for you and you are in my thoughts and prayers!!

[SBOWLING]

Sorry the news at Pt today was frustrating. You have to take the worst first.

I commend you for doing and for keeping on the move. I know it's tough sometimes and easy to overdo. We have a you play you pay condition.

I had disc fusion in my neck so I know neck pain can be awful. I see a chiropractor. He is wonderful and Dr. S in Philly says he is the best thing I do for myself. I see him 3 days a week sometimes 5 if I'm flaired. I had to give up my everyother weekend trip to the mall so I could afford him. He DX my RSD and got me started on the trail of many many doctors before I found the other ones who treat me.

I hope tomorrow is better and you can vent anytime.
Take care of you,
Sherrie

[dreambeliever128]

Thanks for the boost.

It's 3:30 her and I couldn't sleep. I have the boys and they are in there bed and my bed is covered with my glassware until we get the kitchen done so I'm trying to sleep on the couch. I ended up on the floor.

I have got to cut down on what I do. I way overdo it and I just can't anymore.

I went to see my Dr. yesterday and I vent to him. He always says to take one thing at a time. After the surgery Thursday, we will be able to have MRI's done and go from there on the stomach issue, neck and pelvic pain.
They are thinking the stomach problems is from scar tissue but at this point they won't remove it. I see the Gastro again on the 27th. The med he gave me isn't doing any good.

Then we will deal with the other problems. Like I told my Dr. when you have several things going on at a time it's hard to take it one thing at a time.

Ali, I do wish they could do something for your leg. I saw the pictures and I just wish they had some answers for you.

Sherrie, I haven't never been to a Chiropractor but I do know they help some people. Susan just spent a month going to one for her back but it didn't help. She finally had to break down and go to our Dr.

I think it's just frustrating to be doing so good mentally and feel like you are getting better and then just start going down again even though a person is trying to get to a better place.

Thanks girls,
Ada

[daniella]

I am sorry and understand the ups and downs and the frustration as well. I am trying to take one day at a time too and focus on what I can do to get through it in the best possible way. This is of course way easier said then done like you said but a work in progress. I do believe in people who truly have hope and want to get better like you say to really progress and like the doctors told you be a miracle. Hold to hope that things can get better. You never know what may be your miracle so to speak in treatment etc. I live alone as well but have less full of a plate then you. I wonder if you have someone you can ask to help you in duties you have?

[SandyRI]

Ada,

It's awesome that you have a pair of PT's to help you, but I am sorry that they gave you bad news. Try to take each problem one at a time. It took me more than 2 years and 5 or 6 PTs before I finally found one that believed I was really in pain - I think I just looked too good (my RSD started in my shoulder, where you can't see any swelling). It was evident that the rest of them thought because I was WC I was lying (even though I had returned to work FT). Earlier this year I wrote the worst offenders a letter and gave them the link to the RSDSA web site, hoping to save future potential RSDers from the same treatment.

At least you are moving. Wouldn't it be worse if you couldn't move and your pain was there anyway? I try to look at my pain that way in an effort to keep myself sane (although admittedly it's a close call some days). You said that you had boys to take care of, I really hope that they help to take care of you, too! Are they old enough to assume some responsibility for chores around the household? I think that if I made my kids do more of the stuff that I tend to do, then I would have fewer problems with pain. Are you like that too?

Please take care and try not to get too stressed, which will make you feel worse. XOXOX Sandy

[CRPSbe]

Ada,

I'm so sorry to hear about the PT. At least you got an honest answer and you can go from there. That's worth a lot.

Originally Posted by dreambeliever128

I have got to cut down on what I do. I way overdo it and I just can't anymore.

I went to see my Dr. yesterday and I vent to him. He always says to take one thing at a time. After the surgery Thursday, we will be able to have MRI's done and go from there on the stomach issue, neck and pelvic pain.
They are thinking the stomach problems is from scar tissue but at this point they won't remove it. I see the Gastro again on the 27th. The med he gave me isn't doing any good.

Then we will deal with the other problems. Like I told my Dr. when you have several things going on at a time it's hard to take it one thing at a time.

I am dealing with several things at once too, Ada. I get what you're saying about it being hard to take one thing at a time when it feels like you are drowning in additional things besides your RSD, esp. if it's physically getting worse in some way... it's very hard. It's easy for the doctors to categorize and to take on one issue at a time, but meanwhile you are living with these things and they affect your daily life and the quality of it!

My RSD spread to both arms & hands last year. This year I had an UTI, then immediately after that I had severe bowel issues (very painful digestion), and while that was going on, I started having severe inner ear balance problems for which I am taking medication now (could be an inflamed nerve, could be anything inside the inner ear, they don't know yet). First the medication needs to to its job.

[Rita]

Originally Posted by dreambeliever128

I went to see my Physical Therapist today. He and his wife took care of me for 2 years and then I haven't seen them for a little over 3. He says God keeps bringing me into their lives. He told me they worried about me after Bill died and prayed for me. He's very religious.

Anyway, he says I am much worse off then I was when they last saw me. Good to hear, huh? LOL

He asked me why they haven't addressed my neck problems. As I told him, we take things in the order of which is the worst. He thinks my neck is one of my worst problems. He also says I am standing crooked now, to the right. He stretched my neck to deal with the TOS and other issues. I go back Wed. He says my back is worse, knew that.

As I told him, I know I overdo but when you live by yourself and have to do for yourself then you have no choice. I never sit still. He says I am a walking miracle. As I told him, he's the 3rd to tell me that. I know I am but I get frustrated because I can't get farther along in getting well. I know I will always have some of these issues but I do want to get better to a point.

I still need at least 3 more surgeries and not sure if that will end it.

Anyway just venting. I am so tired from the therapy. He did give me some exercise for my neck to do. Miminal exercise. I love these two. They are the best in PT and the best of people.

Thanks for listening. I'm going to my Dr. next today.

I know a lot of you feel frustrated also, I can so relate.

Ada

Ada,
Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers also. I'm glad you have such great PT's, that's a blessing for sure. My heart goes out to you, and to everyone else who deals with this monster every day. You are a strong woman, things will get better.. one day at a time.

[dreambeliever128]

Hi Sandy,
My boys are my Grandson's, will be 15 and 16 here in a few months. They are in school so they can't do much right now but in the summer, they mow my grass and I love having these two around. They are so much fun. We pull jokes up on the computer, they tell jokes they have learned, they sat and talk to me. My oldest confides in me more then his Mom and Stepdad even though they are very understanding with them.

Dustin will be in the 11th grade this year. He's in track and is going to take some pre-med courses. He has the cutest little girl friend of more then a year.

Devin will go into the 9th grade. He is gifted and talented. He is at the high school today shadowing his cousin. He will go to every class with him. His cousin is in the 12th grade. The teacher has done told him that he can do the acting class and problem solving next year. He's going into football and basketball as always.

Susan helps me with things around here. She is my caregiver. I just don't like to wait for her to get here when something needs doing. She helped me plant grass today.

I do have help but I never sit down. I am very blessed with my kids and grandkids and my son-in-law. They all pitch in and do what they can for me.

I am just not one to sit and wait for someone to do for me. It's hard for me to say no to friends to so I help out out in several shops around here.

CRPSbe, you are right, I am glad he was honest with me but it's a bitter pill to swallow at times.

I'm very tired again today. I helped rake the yard and plant grass and helped rip up the carpet in my kitchen.

Thanks to all of you for the support.

Ada

[SandyRI]

Ada,

My son is 15 and is very cute. He also helps out around the house and yard, but you have to watch him like a hawk as he is easily distracted and is often interrupted by cell phone calls, text messages, and numerous nature's calls when it is time to do any work. My husband is stricter than I am and can usually get more out of him. He is also clueless when it comes to anything in the garden and once cut back the wrong perenniel almost all the way to the ground when I wasn't looking (I swear he did it on purpose to get out of future gardening chores!). He wears a size 12 shoe so one step in the garden on the wrong spot can take out a whole family of baby plants that have just sprouted. But he does have the advantage of being way bigger and stronger than me and can mow and rake and haul so easily. We just need to work on the attention span thing!!

Hope you are having a good day today. You are an inspiration to me because of all the things you are still able to do. But I have to say that my pain levels have improved since I stopped doing so much with my arms, I NEED to learn to take it easy. I even slept last night for a while. When I was young I was a swimmer and a lifeguard, I had awesome shoulders. It's a bummer that I can't use those muscles anymore because of my head pain. When did you finally get over that "adjustment" period?

Take care, Sandy