JINNY
I was diagnosed 6 years ago following total knee surgery. I was really disabled by the RSD as it interferred with my rehab. My bones thinned ( a part of the disease) and a year later I fractured the end of my femur where the total knee was. I was hospitalized many times and went through many different treatments. At one point I was taking so much long-acting Morphine, my friends, who are also nurses, were stunned! I am happy to say that I have made good progress. It is important to get treatment early, and keep the joints moving. I know this is hard, because I cried during much of my early physical therapy. I found that when I had a treatment that seemed to work-even if only for a very short time, I would go into the pool at the physical therapist's office and move my knee. Unfortunatly, I still have pain, but at this point, it is usually tolerable with pain medication in normal amounts, as I need it. I am working again. Unfortunatly, I find standing for any length of time and walking more than a short distance, intolerable. I do have times when I want to cut off my limb-but they are not that often. I have learned to live with this level of RSD. I will start again with my pain MD if my symptoms flare up. Find a physician who is specialized in pain treatment. Fortunatly for me, my Orthopedist recognized my symptoms early and sent me to an anestheiologist who specialized in RSD and made a definitive diagnosis. I have been an RN for 25 years and had never heard of RSD. Thank goodness my doctors did not question my complaints of pain. I could not even stand to have the sheets touch my leg. I still cannot stand to lightly touch my leg over the pain pathway. There are many treatments nowadays. Find someone who knows alot about it. Read up on it-be your own advocate. Good luck-if you ever need someone to talk to-email me. There is hope for relief!