Hi everyone,
I have recently been diagnosed with RSD after having a simple arthriscopy surgery on my knee to repair torn cartiledge. I had never heard of or even imagined that there was such a disorder/disease as painful or as hard to understand as this one is.
At times I feel like maybe the intense pain is all in my head and I am really just crazy.I mean how in the world can this kind of pain just be for no aparent reason at all? I have a doctor who I believe understands RSD, but I am not sure if I do or not.
I am not close with,well really I have a non-existant relationship with my blood family. It has been very hard on my close friends(who I now consider my family), because they have been the ones who have taken up helping me out with a place to stay and a bed to lay in all day and night when I have had epiderals to try to ease the pain, and put those nerves to sleep so they are not so active. They have been the ones who are having to listen to me cry. It kinda feels as though maybe some of them wonder weather the pain and hurt is all in my head...or maybe I am just attention seeking. I dunno, noone has said these things out loud TO ME, but have hinted at it to me, and I overheard a statement that leads me to believe it. I sometimes wonder as well, if maybe they are right. The pain gets so intense at times, and it makes no logical sense to me. I had a simple scope done to my knee, so why oh why does it hurt as though I am on fire all the time? It makes no sense. I had the same surgery done when I was in high school,15 years ago, and never had pain anything close to, or feel anything like this. I feel like I am going crazy sometimes. Does anyone else go through this? Would love to chat with someone who understands. Can anyone realate at all...or am I crazy???
Curly

Hello Curly.
I would like to welcome you to this board, I have not got the same troubles as you and am new to this particular forum myself i usally go to pain management or back problems, but i am in desparate need for some advice so i thought i would try here also..
I'm sure the pain is not all in your mind though sweetie..
I'm sure some peep will be along to chat with you soon hon..

Love pebbles..

Dear Curly,

Hon you are not crazy!! i got this God awful condition from carpal tunnel surgery!
I'm really sorry you have no blood relatives that are close to you to help you! But you can be very thankful you do have some friends to help you!
I suggest you do some research!!

I wish you the Best
Take care
Sue

[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 12-27-2002).]

Research.....where do I begin? I need help with this whole RSD thing. It's begining to really get to me.
Anyone know of any good and informative websites out there?
Thanks,
C

hi! I just read your post. And no you are not crazy. RSD is very real and the pain and burning is not all in your head. It is very hard for anyone to understand this awfull disorder until you expierence it yourself.

I have RSD in my arm and hand from a fall on the ice that fractured my wrist. I am in constant pain. At first I also thought is this all in my head, because no one understands and can't believe that such a little injury can do so so much damage, but it does.

I am on many medications for rsd and also have had the spinal cord stimulator implant. My life will never be the same since I got this dreadfull disorder.

Never give up, keep on fighting and don't let this monster beat you. it is so hard for people to understand what we go through but it is real and very painfull, mentally and physically.

Take care and feel free to write to me if you want to talk.
Cattys

Carolyn,
Try the website www.rsdhope.org (http://www.rsdhope.org) This is a wonderful site, set up by a gentleman named Keith Orsini and his parents. I have even talked to him on the phone before and he is great. He suffers from full body RSD and the site is loaded with info.

DW

I'm not sure if I have RSD or not but I can relate to the "in my head" statement. Because my carpal tunnel surgery didn't work on my R wrist and now my L wrist also hurts like heck. DRs tried everything (I hope) they could. Blocks only worked for short time. Now some Independent Med DR (who was a neurologist) has decided its all in my head so I have to go get a "Psych" eval at the end of the month. I think DRs when they can't think of any thing else has decided to come up with the term "psychogenic pain disorder" Meaning Yes it is in your head. Instead of having to acually do some investagating and work for their money just basically pass the buck and unfortunatly your pain to someone else.