The Obsticals of Chronic Pain

Over the last 8 yrs I have lived with the pain of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Its hard for me to describe to anyone who doesn't live with this type of pain day in and day out what this does to you physically and mentally. Going to bed with pain and knowing that your going to wake up and experience it all over again can be trying at times. In my case I am a very light sleeper, so I do feel pain when I am sleeping. People may find this to be a hard concept but when you have RSD its reality. Last night esspecially when I would only sleep an hour at a time due to my right arm feeling like it was on fire.

I have never gotten to the point where I have needed help by a Professional for the mental obsticals that RSD has thrown my way. I am not saylng that seeing a Psychiatrist is a bad thing. For many people it helps them express emotions that otherwise they couldn't. I do recommend if you or someone you know has chronic pain to go see a Psychiatrist that has specialized in Pain Managment. I have been able to surround myself with people who support me. I surround myself not only with my family and friends but with others who have RSD. Those of us with RSD can support each other by understanding what each other is going through, encouraging each other through various treatments, and simply be there for one another.

I meet one of my good friends who has RSD on facebook. She and I quickly became friends and a short time later we were able to meet in NYC when I went to participate in the Achilles Hope and Possibility Walk in 2007. Even though her and I are several years apart in age we are have a bond because of the pain we experience each and everyday. I havent seen her since 2007 and I am looking forward to seeing her this summer.

One of my friends from my college, has Cerebral Palsy. Him and I have great talks whenever he comes up to visit as he graduated from the college in 2009. He made a donation to RSDSA on my behalf. He also posted about the walk on his Disaboom site. If you have a chance please check it out. He posts reguarly about Cerebral Palsy. Here is the link to his Disaboom site, click here http://www.disaboomlive.com/Blogs/zachary/archive/2010/05/17/achilles-walk-for-hope-amp-possibility-team-rsdsa.aspx

Before I end this post I do have to let everyone know how strong people with RSD and Chronic pain are. Well actually anyone who has a "disablility" (I hate that word) is strong emotionally and physically. We have to find ways to get things accomidated for us so that we may have an equal chance just as everyone else does.

Being an Optomist

There are many factors that affect how a person responds to treatment when they have a chronic condition. Attitude is one of the major factors that comes up. With RSD it is hard to exactly be "positive" but having a glass half full type of attitude is going to be more helpful then a glass half empty type of attitude.

When my RSD came back at 17, I had to get home tutored because my pain was so bad. I literally thought my life was over especially since I hardly had a social life and I was in the most horrific pain. I knew if I wanted to turn my life around I need to do it myself. My friend and I would try to find one thing that entertained us everyday. We would make sure that these things were positive and would put a smile on our faces. I started developing a different attitude about life and about my RSD. I actually didn't hate my RSD, I accepted it. When I would go in for treatments I would make sure I had my sister paint my toenails a hot pink, my signature color. The Dr's and nurses loved the fact the my toenails were pink and could always identify me by that. I would go into procedures or surgery smiling knowing that this could be the procedure or surgery that could be the one that provided me with the relief I needed, thankfully my SCS did it.

Now that I am in college and around a diverse group of people I can see how being an optimist helps with not only chronic illnesses but also life in general. I help co-run a group on Facebook called RSD aka Really Sucks Dystrophy. I love helping co-run the group. I have actually made some of my best RSDer friends from the group. Ive noticed though that people's attitude's about their RSD are reflected on how others feel about their disease. This was actually mentioned in a NY Times article that if the group's attitude is negative then the members attitudes in the group is most likely going to be negative the same goes for the positive side.

I know RSD isnt the easiest disease to live with but we can have a say if it is going to control our lives. I refuse to have a negative attitude and let my RSD affect me like that.





NY Times Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/technology/25disable.html?WT.mc_id=TE-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-OSN-032410-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

My friend Haley and I, Summer 2009