Hi everyone. My name is Jolene. I use to be the most amazing athelete
and martial artist. I loved playing my guitars and painting fine
crafts, and I was so happy and positive all the time. I had wonderful
relationship and a super terrific job on my way to a fruitful
business, new home, and all those wonderful things that come along
after hard work pays off. I was in the prime of my life at the age of
37 when this all started.

A year and a half ago, I got caught on a handrailing decending some
stairs, it jerked me so hard, and it broke a few bones and ripped
some tendons.
I unfortunately went undiagnosed for some time b/c I had no medical
insurance and doctors wouldnt schedual me as others with insurance. I
was a self pay.
So after 8 weeks or so of feeling aweful waiting for an orthopedic
specialist , I was able to beg a doctor for MRIs to discover these
injuries.
After they were found, months later, I was still feeling just
terrible.
This is when a doctor diagnosed me with this hideous disease.
At first I thought it was the most bizarre thing Ive heard. I had
broken bones before, and healed with no problem-I was a fighter, a
strong woman, vibrant, and nothing could keep me down. So when I
heard this RSD, I really couldnt fathom it.

Well almost 2 years later, I have not been able to have one day
without pain, or swelling, coldness of the hand or fingers, burning
flesh feelings, and throbbing shooting pains.
I lost my job.
I lost my savings paying for medical help, medicines, and having no
job to supposrt me.
I lost my relationship due to others inability to rationalise and
understand RSD.
Im losing my home.
I still have no medical insurance, and require care for pain
management, but cannot afford pain management because of my savings
being depleted.
When I go to some doctors they look at me like Im some junkie trying
to score drugs.
Its humiliating to see how condecending not only doctors are, but
because this injury happend in a restaraunt, now I have lawyers doing
the same thing to me. Not beleiving-not releasing their liablity
coverage to pay my medical bills...

Its like a nightmare that I cannot wake from.

Ive been on vicodin, percocet, xanex, neurontin, elavil, and
ibruprofin out the wazoo, because I hate narcotic drugs and the way
they fog my head.
The neurontin made me feel even worse, with aweful, dark thoughts of
ending my own life.

Ive gotten help for the depression. Im trying to remain positive by
taking on a job that brings me around people again. But even a simple
job in a clothing store becomes almost impossible with hand swelling,
pain...and NO ONe understands or has ever even heard of this disease
RSD.

Im still doing physical therapy a few times a week since last May
2003, but now they talk about nerve blocks, and and surgery, and the
way it appears by reading some of these posts, that the blocks and
surgey dont even help. Even the doctor said its a small chance so why
put myself thru something thats not going to work and be very painful
going through it?
I want to know if there has been anything available to alievaiate
pain- has anyone had success with nerve blocks or a carpul tunnel
surgery?
My RSD is in my right dominant arm, hand and sholder.
I appreciate anyone reading this post and trying to help.

Blessings, love and light to you all suffering, and despairing.
Jolene