[loretta]

Hi Cindi and Welcome,
I'm happy for you too. I, likewise, feel the same way. I've learned so much and been encouraged by many compassionate friends. I am 61, have had RSD 13 years-following breast surgery-benign. Was diagnosed for 4 years. It is now full body. Right after surgery, I had stabbing pains and swelling in my arm. The Dr. withdrew fluid that was lime green. I had this done about 3-4 times. I didn't know that meant infection till just a few months ago. Then frozen shoulder then physical therapy.
I've just had a major breakthru. I hadn't been sleeping well,and my Dr. was doing a trial study on 200 people. He switched me from Ambien Cr. to a low dose of seroquel. It was amazing, I went from not getting to sleep until 5-6 in the am to sleeping all night -the restorative type of sleep. That, in turn, caused my pain to go way down. I've been on it 5 weeks. MY Dr. dropped my anxiety med, lorazepam in half and left it up to me to lower my pain med vicodin. I was able to go from 6 pills a day to 3 pills of vicodin. I even lowered the lorazepam an extra pill-so I went from 6mg of lorazepam to 2 mg.
I'm getting out of the house, getting my energy back. I had been pretty much in the bed fulltime. My time is limited right now, but I'll post later some of the things that have really helped me thru the years and my spread and pain. Take care, loretta