Hello everyone!

Thank you for visiting my page and for taking the time to read my story, and considering being apart of Team Kona!

Ten years ago this November was when my life was forever changed. I remember waking up the morning of November 5th, 2010, getting out of bed to take a step, and it felt like I stepped on a knife. My foot was beet red and was burning severely, I had never experienced anything like it. Fortunately I had crutches at home my mom had from a knee surgery she had, so I used those to attend school that day. The pain continued to worsen and I ended up in the emergency room that evening. The doctors ended up not coming up with a resolution, saying it just was bruised (my bone has some bruising) and it would be better by Monday. Sadly, it was not. By Monday it was even more red, and the pain was already going up my leg. I went to my primary doctor and she just wanted me to move it, and by that point the allodynia (sensitivity to touch) had already set in. The physical therapist I was sent to refused to touch me or do any physical work until I was seen by an Orthapedic Specialist. Unfortunately all that was found was bruising, and he had no clue what was going on.

It took about a month until he decided that what was going on was way outside his expertise, and he referred me to a neurologist. A few days after Christmas, I went to the neurologist I was referred to and just by seeing my foot, he diagnosed me with RSD, or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. He said I was total textbook, by this point my foot had turned purple, was moddled in appearance, and I could not have anything touch it, not even a passing breeze. I ended up having a nerve conduction test to check for nerve damage, which was probably the most painful test I've ever had.

I was then referred to a pain clinic nearby, which is where I would begin my treatments. I ended up having multiple nerve blocks, one spinal, and three behind my knee. None of them worked. I was sent to the Children's Hospital in Iowa City for a week and underwent multiple tests, probably every test under the sun. I was told many times I didn't want to be diagnosed with this condition. I was seen by the supposed RSD specialist at the hospital and was told my case was too severe for him, and I probably wouldn't live another 5 years, and walked out of the room. I was told I wasn't going to walk again, or have to have my leg amputated. I ended up additionally having tens unit treatments at my pain clinic daily, while also going to physical therapy twice a week. Nothing was working. 

We discovered a pain specialist who worked with RSD patients at the Children's Hospital in Chicago, and thankfully got into the clinic. I ended up having a pain pump threaded into the back of my leg, which unfortunately was not placed correctly as part of my leg was numb and the other part I could still feel everything. I also had a lot of pain from getting the pain pump threaded, and to this day I think is the reason why it spread up higher into my thigh. 

My pain was getting worse, it was May at this point and I couldn't handle it much longer. I had been seen by so many doctors, and most would end up crying because they knew there wasn't much that could be done. I don't think I had ever seen a doctor cry before. I remember going on vacation to visit my Grandma, and stopping at a rest stop and slipping and falling on some water. I had taken a step and the pain completely instensified. I was almost rushed to the emergency room, however I knew there was nothing they would do for me there.

By the end of July is when I started seeing my acupuncturist. This was my last resort before considering ketamine treatments in Chicago, which is a common medication used in RSD patients. I didn't believe it could work, as I had tried so many different treatments before and nothing had worked. Miraculously, over time I was able to touch my leg and begin water therapy. I took my first steps in the warm pool. Later I was able to toss my wheelchair and crutches to the side and actually walk for the first time in a year, we couldn't believe it! 

Unfortunately, during all of this I couldn't attend school or be involved in my favorite high school activities. I ended up having flare ups several times, but thankfully acupuncture always helped in the end. I ended up later being additionally diagnosed with dystonia, fibromyalgia, and hypermobile-ehlers danlos syndrome. 

I thankfully defied all of the doctors and have gone on to attend college, get engaged, and have a beautiful baby boy. I'm beyond happy to be where I'm at, and I still can't believe that this is my 10 year anniversary. Again, thank you for reading my story and thank you to everyone who helped me in my journey ?