thanks for input, but still in pain!

[mrshippie]

So many of your responded with great info about your experiences with RSD. THis is a valuable site for newbies like me. THANKS!

My Workers' comp refused the neurostimulator, so now I am on Fentanyl and Fentora(oral Fentanyl for breakthrough pain), but have not had any exciting pain relief. I am sleeping a bit more, but I would rather take something non-narcotic to help me sleep! I am experiencing LOTS of depression and yes, I think I am trying to deny that I will have this forever...I want to keep the hope of a "cure" in my mind! I am normally a very positive person and I have a high tolerence for pain. I guess that is why people are not able to "see" the pain I am in. It is difficult for them to know it when they see me smile. But I need to smile to help me stay UPbeat! My husband is becoming more and more effected by this condition. He is having to do so much more and WE are not able to do so many things we enjoyed together in the past....How do you all deal with this? I am accepting the fact that I may not be able to work again...even though I would LOVE to, but the effects on my family are much more difficult to deal with.
I have a mitigation hearing coming this next week. I am hoping to be approved for a referral to and RSD specialist. I don't know of any in NC, but am searching daily. Any input would be appreciated!

Hope you all enjoyed the Christmas holiday and I wish EVERYONE a HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND ENCOURAGING NEW YEAR!!:)

[GalenaFaolan]

You always gotta smile!! We do it in our house a lot and it does help me to stay up. I feel kind of weird because I did a lot of research right off the bat and accepted RSD and accepted there was no cure and it was for life. The hard part for me, though I didn't let it drag me down, was the not working. Realizing that I can't work and wouldn't ever work again. I was a very active person, always going and doing. The sudden stop was like slamming into a brick wall.

It's been almost 4 years for me and I deal with that part better though when our finances are in trouble, like now, then I get upset a bit at not being able to work and contribute. So, I'm going to jump in, make more bead jewelry and sell it for extra money. Eventually maybe I can even branch out making other things out of clay and other things.

It was and sometimes is hard that my hubby has to do more than before, but we've adjusted to it and won't let me feel bad about it. I know my limits now and stay within them, even though it's hard.

I was a WC case too and was so happy to get away from them and find my own doc. It took me a few months but I found one. I found some docs for you to check out and maybe you'll be able to see one of them. Here is the link to a site with all docs in north carolina that deal with pain management. You can always put their name in a search engine as well to see if they're right for your needs. Sometimes you can find a profile or a website for their office.

http://www.association-office.com/abpm/etools/publicdir/results.cfm#detail.cfm

Gentle Hugs
Karen

[kathy d]

Dear mrshippie,
Gosh, I was so sorry to hear that you have joined out RSD ranks now. It took me several months before I found this wonderful site and it has helped me so much. You sound a bit like me with having a high tolerance for pain and what your family is going through. I have found out that families have to go through their own denial system while you go through the RSD. I find that I take what they say with a grain of salt and keep on moving. Since your foot or your arm is not falling off and they can't see your pain they automatically think that your pain is gone especially if you smile or laugh a bit. It drives me crazy! I am a single parent and have a great 18 year old son who takes care of me alot. We did everything from skiing to swimming and then some together and now...we do nothing because I can't even walk. I try to stay focused and keep my mind busy. I find if my mind wanders then I get REALLY depressed and want to sit and cry all the time. So, humor and prayers as well as my son have gotten me through this difficult time in my life. Hang in there and get a really good doctor to go to. I would even call ahead and see how well versed he is in RSD and how many patients he has treated with it. Take care and best of luck,
Kathy d.