As much as I love to offer support ... in so many ways... it is difficult for me to ask for support. I imagine many of us here can relate to this.
I have been ill, with various autoimmune conditions (a collection of them) for over 20 years now. Faith has brought me through it all.

I am very used to chronic pain... lots of it... everywhere. Some exacerbations are worse than others. All are quite severe.

Briefly I'll mention I'd had a surgery on an arm last July, in an attempt to save a hand from further atrophy, by moving a nerve. The surgery was very straightforward. It is usually a very successful procedure.

However, I've never fully recovered from surgery. I became increasingly ill and increasingly debilitated. I'd started to have even more neurological issues. I was rapidly becoming more and more physically impaired. None of my doctors could figure this out. A couple of my "older docs" had a suspicion; however, the surgeon and others had disagreed at the time.

Just over a year later, I am more impaired than ever. The surgery did not help. It had seemed to set off a bunch of reactions that have been very painful. My hand is "dystonic." My hand has also been swollen and painful for over a year. My entire arm has been swollen, off and on, for over a year.

Now...my entire body is in excruciating pain. My entire body is "on fire!" All four limbs are swollen, to varying degrees. One foot and ankle are suddenly huge! (No blood clot.) I have severe muscle cramping all over my body.

When my limbs (all 4) blew up two days ago, I was in touch with my neurologist. He'd returned my call even though he was on vacation. We had been working very closely together. I'd asked him if he now thinks I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome now, in response to the surgery of last July? He's a very bright, yet gentle man. He'd replied , "I'm afraid so." He feels he needs to refer me out to someone else for help, as he feels we have exhausted all treatment options and has now come to the conclusion that this additional condition is likely RSD/CRPS.

Many here deal with chronic and severe pain, I know. It can bring one right to the edge at times, can't it? I'll admit, it has me right on the edge... far too often right now.

I have not been able to get the immediate help with adjusting pain meds and am very aware of what we all go through with pain (of all types) and in trying to get help. Ugghhh!

I am suddenly (and chronically) brought to my knees, pleading for relief. My DH is in pain simply knowing how much pain I am experiencing. My dear dog is staying very near to me and she whines when she knows I am in severe pain, even though I utter nothing to let her know. She just knows. (My mother cries, my stepdad get stir-crazy. He is trying to beat cancer right now. I know they feel helpless in what they can do to help me. I am sorry they feel helpless.)

No doctor in this area is sure of just what to do with this yet. I will likely have to go to travel to see a specialist for this. (For an expert opinon and for any treatment.) In the meantime, we are trying to figure out how to treat the pain. (I have severe adverse reactions to many of the meds used for treating neuropathic pain.)

Please remember my husband, my family, my sweet dog... and me, in prayer. Everyone is hurting badly just now. Very badly.

I am grateful, beyond any/all words for your friendship, your support, your positive thoughts and your prayers.

I'll be remembering you and yours in prayer.

May we all continue to uplift one another?

May we all feel the work of the Divine in our lives?