New Member - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Message Board

skelly03 · 11-21-2007, 09:12 PM

Hi All,

My name is Shannon, I'm 38 years old, mom to 3 kids, married for 19 years.
I was diagnosied with RSD in Aug following a small stroke and a neck/back problem I have had for many years and seen chiro drs for. The RSD right now is in my right hand,arm, shoulder blade, armpit, right side of back and now spreading slowly to the left shoulder blade. I have done the stellar Ganlliaon (sp?) injections but am taking a break from them for a while. I am also experiencing hair loss I just read someone else's post mention that as well it has started in the last few months not bald yet BUT LOL... also can't lay in bathtub and relax one of my favorite things to do at end of day to unwind but my back mainly shoulder blade can't handle it the pain is too intense. Overall I have been totally lost in this maze of RSD each nuerology dr I have seen seems to have a different take on it but have only seen 1 or 2 RSD patients I finally found a wonderful PM dr who has treated many RSD patients and is finally treating my pain more agressively and she takes time to talk to me and explain what the heck is going on. Overall it has been hard not to be depressed and maybe I am between the pain, lack of sleep, watching my kids worry about me, I USE to be VERY independent and active,
watching my hair fall out etc etc etc but I'm trying very hard to be Thankful my husband is reading RSD info and books to best help me out, my kids have become more compassionate because of illness and my mom and dad have been truly wonderful my mom is here 5 days a week to help me around the house with housework and taking care of me on my bad days and my dad takes me to appts when my mom cant!!! Okay so enough about me I'm so looking forward to getting to know you all!!!

Take Care and Happy Thanksgiving
Shannon

nichole72 · 11-22-2007, 12:02 AM

Shannon,

Welcome! We are pretty similar with the RSD, mine is in my upper right arm,shoulder,neck and and is also in my left arm now. I had neck and back problems and got my RSD from a pm doc hitting my cervical nevres on the right side. I too did the gangallion blocks but finally they did not help. I now have had a cervical spinal cord stimulator and having test to see if my RSD is in my legs now which they believe it is. Its good that your family is helping you out, It took my kids alittle while to fully understand but they are starting to help more. It's hard not lose your mind or get depressed but you will find that this board will help alot, it has for me. I also found that one of my nevre meds(cymbalta) it's actual function is for depression so that helps to. Please feel free to ask questions any time because as I learned, everyone on this board is WONDERFUL and will be great help. I wish you the best of luck!

Happy Thanksgiving

Nichole

skelly03 · 11-22-2007, 09:23 AM

Nichole,

Thank you for the warm welcome!! Wow we are pretty RSD similar though I am sorry yours is now in your legs too!! How are you doing with the cervical spinal cord stimulator? That is something at last PM dr visit she began talking about but for now I am choosing (partly out of fear of unknown) to try to control the pain thro medications because last dr sent me for lots of injections but little medications and injections I am done with. I have heard about some of the nevre meds helping with depressing but I am not on them I am on Topamax and Lyrica I will ask about that on next appt with new dr. Thank you again I am sure I will have a ton of questions, I already have

, for the board but can't remember them all right now which is good I need to pace my hand!!

Hugs,

Shannon

sharon1030 · 11-22-2007, 06:14 PM

Hi Shannon,

Welcome to the board! Our similarities are our name (mine is Sharon) and I'm around your age (turned 37 in October). If I'm guessing right from your username, you're Irish and so am I

. Anyway, I'm sorry you have to deal with this too. It must be hard with 3 children. I don't have kids...I got RSD when I was 15 and I kind of let it put a halt to some things in my life like marriage and kids...I do have a 3 year old niece and 1 year old nephew and I know how exhausted I am after a day with them (even though I love them to death!). How old are yours? That's great that you have support from your husband, kids and parents. It's so important and it seems that so many don't have that (I'm also very fortunate...my parents are great and very supportive).

I guess that's it for now. I'm glad you found us. This is a great place with lots of friendly, caring, knowledgeable people. Talk soon.

Sharon

skelly03 · 11-22-2007, 11:28 PM

Hi Sharon,

Thank you for the warm welcome also!! Yup you guess right about the Irish lol the user name does give me away

!! My kids are two boys 18 yrs and 15 yrs old and 1 girl 11 yrs old, got busy with motherhood right away

. I'm so sorry you got RSD so young and it sent you down a different path but I DO understand I have said many times in the past year (this all started Nov 6 ,06) that I was thankful I had my kids and they where older because I couldn't have them now because of medical problems and am thankful they are older because I can't be the mom I was when they where little because of pain, tiredness, and everything else RSD has taken that I will get back when I don't know but I will. I'm so happy you have your niece and nephew and supportive parents too it makes all the difference!!

Hugs

Shannon